Halibut vs. Flounder

Main Difference

The main difference between Halibut and Flounder is that Halibut is a kind of flatfish, whereas Flounder is a general expression for flatfish.

Halibut vs. Flounder — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Halibut and Flounder

Halibut vs. Flounder

A group of flatfishes that include the largest bony fishes and used as food is known as halibut while, all the flatfishes that are an important source of food are known as flounder.

Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut is a narrow term that belongs to a group of flatfishes whereas; flounder is a broad term that includes all the flatfishes.

Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut lives near the bottom, but it may swim up to feed, on the other hand, flounder lives on the ocean floor.

Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut gains more weight, i.e., largest halibut ever caught on record was weighed about 482 lbs (218.6 kg) conversely, flounder has low weight, i.e., summer flounder can weigh up to 26 lbs (11.8 kg).

Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut has a long and diamond-shaped body on the flip side; flounder has a round and short body.

Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut has eyes on the right side on the other side, location of eyes in flounder depends on the species.

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Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut has pointed and slightly forked tail while, flounder have rounded tail.

Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut can grow to massive sizes, on the flip side, flounder has a much smaller size and generally grow to up to 37 inches.

Halibut vs. Flounder

Halibut has a large mouth with cone-shaped teeth; on the other hand, flounder has prominent teeth and a small mouth.

Halibutnoun

A large flatfish of the genus Hippoglossus, which sometimes leaves the ocean floor and swims vertically.

Floundernoun

A European species of flatfish having dull brown colouring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder, Platichthys flesus.

Halibutnoun

lean flesh of very large flatfish of Atlantic or Pacific

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Floundernoun

(North America) Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.

Halibutnoun

marine food fish of the northern Atlantic or northern Pacific; the largest flatfish and one of the largest teleost fishes

Floundernoun

A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts.

Flounderverb

(intransitive) To flop around as a fish out of water.

Flounderverb

(intransitive) To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.

Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.

Flounderverb

(intransitive) To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.

He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.

Floundernoun

flesh of any of various American and European flatfish

Floundernoun

any of various European and non-European marine flatfish

Flounderverb

walk with great difficulty;

He staggered along in the heavy snow

Flounderverb

behave awkwardly; have difficulties;

She is floundering in college

Comparison Chart

HalibutFlounder
A group of flatfishes that include the largest bony fishes and used as food is known as halibut.All the flatfishes that are an important source of food are known as flounder.
Term
It is a narrow term that belongs to a group of flatfishes.It is a broad term that includes all the flatfishes.
Body Shape
Halibut has a long and diamond-shaped body.Flounder has a round and short body.
Mouth Shape
Halibut has a large mouth with cone-shaped teeth.Flounder has prominent teeth and smallmouth.
Habitat
Halibut lives near the bottom, but it may swim up to feed.Flounder lives on the ocean floor.
Size
Halibut can grow to massive sizes.Flounder has a much smaller size and generally grow to up to 37 inches.
Weight
Halibut gains more weight, i.e., largest halibut ever caught on record was weighed about 482 lbs (218.6 kg)Flounder has low weight, i.e., summer flounder can weigh up to 26 lbs (11.8 kg).
Position of Eyes
Halibut has eyes on the right side.Location of eyes in flounder depends on the species.
Tail
Halibut has pointed and a slightly forked tail.Flounder has a rounded tail.

Halibut vs. Flounder

Everyone likes to eat fish in their meal. People also like to eat it in the rainy season. There are different types of fishes, but here we are discussing halibut and flounder. Halibut and flounder are included in some of the tastiest fish present in the sea. It is a favorite dish of seafood lovers worldwide. It sounds strange that halibut is flounder. The reason behind this is that flounder is a general expression for whole flatfish family, including Sole, Plaice, Turbot and more. But halibut is a kind of that family. Halibut can grow to massive sizes. On the other hand, flounder generally grow to up to 37 inches and are a lot smaller than the halibut. Halibut has a large mouth with cone-shaped teeth, on the flip side, flounder has prominent teeth and a small mouth. Halibut lives near the bottom, but it may swim up to feed, whereas flounder lives on the ocean floor. Largest halibut ever caught on record was weighed about 482 lbs (218.6 kg) while summer flounder have weighed up to 26 lbs (11.8 kg). So, it means that halibut has more weight than flounder. Halibut has eyes on the right side, on the flip side, location of eyes in flounder depends on the species. Halibut has a long and diamond-shaped body; on the other side, flounder has a round and short body. Halibut has pointed and slightly forked tail while, flounder have rounded tail.

What is Halibut?

A halibut is a form of flatfish, and it is a term that is applied to a group of flounder. The word halibut was first derived from the Middle English word ‘halibut,’ which stands for holy flatfish due to its use during Catholic holy days when the consumption of meat is forbidden. It is very tasty and has found its way into many dishes. Halibut inhabits in the demersal zone, which is also known as the bottom of seas and lakes. They feed on almost all kinds of crustaceans, fish, and sea animals, as long they can easily fit inside their mouth, which is filled with cone-shaped teeth. Their diet also includes flounder and fellow halibut. The halibut’s upper side is darkish brown while its underside is off-white. Moreover, microscopic scales are embedded in the halibut’s skin. Their eyes are located on the right side of their body. The lateral line of halibut is curved, and they has a concave-shaped tail.

What is Flounder?

Flounder is a general term for flatfish. Flounder lives on the seabed throughout the world. Mature flounder has two eyes located on one side of its head. However, when hatched, his eyes are located on each side of the brain. Metamorphosis during the flounder growth cycle causes one eye to migrate to the upper side of the body. Eye migration is common among lightning, and the area where the eye migrates varies from species to species. Relative to the specie, the lateral lines in the flounder can be straight, as is the case with winter flounder and flounder witch, or very curved as with those on the left-eye float windowpane and yellowtail.

Conclusion

Above discussion summarizes that a flounder is a large group of all flatfishes that also include halibut. Flounder are small in size and has low weight whereas, halibut is large in size and has more weight. Both these types are a good source of food.