THE SHALLOW-WATER FLATFISHES OF SAN-DIEGO COUNTY

Seven species of flatfish live in the shallow marine waters (depth 14 m) of San Diego County: California halibut, Paralichthys californicus; fantail sole, Xystreurys liolepis; speckled sanddab, Citharichthys stigmaeus; spotted turbot, Pleuronichthys ritteri; hornyhead turbot, Pleuronichthys verticalis; diamond turbot, Hypsopsetta guttulata; and California tongue-fish, Symphurus atricauda. Speckled sanddab was most abundant, representing 79% of the flatfish catch. California halibut had the highest biomass, and represented 46% of the catch. Only California halibut and diamond turbot used bays as nursery areas; they had distinct ontogenetic distributions, with length increasing with depth. The remaining species settled on the open coast but were not found together during early juvenile stages; they settled at different depths, and at different times of the year. Older juveniles and adults partitioned the habitat by eating different foods and by living at different depths and locations. Life histories of nearshore flatfishes varied widely: speckled sanddab settled at a large size on the open coast and matured rapidly, whereas California halibut settled at a small size, used bays as nurseries, and delayed maturity.