Pacific sanddab
| Pacific sanddab | |
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C. sordidus
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| Citharichthys sordidus (Girard, 1854)
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The Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) is a species of flatfish. It is by far the most common sanddab, and it shares its habitat with the longfin sanddab (C. xanthostigma) and the speckled sanddab (C. stigmaeus). It is a medium-sized flatfish, with a light brown color mottled brown or black, occasionally with white or orange spots.
The Pacific sanddab is endemic to the northern Pacific Ocean, from the Sea of Japan to the coast of California. They are most commonly found at depths of 50 to 150 m (160 to 490 ft), though the young inhabit shallower waters, occasionally moving into tide pools.
It is an opportunistic predator, feeding on a variety of crustaceans, as well as smaller fish, squid, and octopuses.
It is a popular game fish in northern California, found on menus in the Monterey Bay and San Francisco area, though more difficult to find in southern California restaurants and markets. Usually sold frozen, some regard it as a delicacy, but it is very affordable and quite delicious. It is also popular in Oregon and Washington, where it can be found more readily.
References
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Citharichthys sordidus" in FishBase. September 2006 version.
