Common name : Atlantic halibut
Scientific name : Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Family : Pleuronectidae
Native to : North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans
Interesting fact : The name halibut is derived from ‘Hali’ (holy) and ‘butt’ (flat fish), as it was eaten on Catholic holidays.
Conservation status : Endangered
The halibut is a dark brown flat fish with an off-white belly and very small scales. One of its eyes migrates to the other side at six months post-birth. It feeds on sand lances, octopuses, crabs, salmons, hermit crabs, herring and flounder. It spends most of the time at the bottom moving up the water column to feed. Its lifespan is 30-50 years.
