Mero vs Summer Flounder

Epinephelus itajara comparado com Paralichthys dentatus

Taxonomy & Classification

Atributo	Mero	Summer Flounder
Nome Científico	Epinephelus itajara	Paralichthys dentatus
Ordem	Perciformes	Perciformes
Família	Serranidae	Pleuronectidae
Conservation Status	Vulnerable	Least Concern

Physical Traits

Atributo	Mero	Summer Flounder
Comprimento Máximo	250,0 cm	94,0 cm
Peso Máximo	363,0 kg	12,0 kg
Cor	Yellow-brown to olive-green body densely covered with small dark brown spots and irregular blotches; 3–4 faint pale vertical bands on the flanks; juveniles show bolder contrasting yellow and black stripes.	Eyed side is brownish to gray-green with a mottled pattern of pale blotches; 12–14 distinct pale-edged dark ocelli (eyespots) scattered across the body; blind side is plain white; color changes with substrate.

Habitat & Environment

Atributo	Mero	Summer Flounder
Tipo de Água	Saltwater	Saltwater
Faixa de Profundidade	0-100m	10-183m
Distribuição Geográfica	Tropical western Atlantic from Florida and the Gulf of Mexico through the Caribbean Sea to Brazil, and eastern Pacific from the Gulf of California to …	Western North Atlantic from Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Undertakes seasonal offshore migration to deeper Continental Shelf waters in …
Habitat	Neritic, coral reefs, estuaries	Neritic, demersal, estuaries

Informações de Pesca

Atributo	Mero	Summer Flounder
Peixe Esportivo	Sim	Sim
Classificação de Resistência	9/10	4/10
Recorde Mundial	—	—
Nível de Mercúrio	—	—

Cuisine & Edibility

Mero

Firm, flaky white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor; harvest is heavily restricted or banned throughout most of its range due to Vulnerable status. Catch-and-release strongly encouraged.

Summer Flounder

Thin, delicate white fillets with a sweet, mild flavor and very low fat. Prized on the U.S. East Coast; superb pan-fried in butter, stuffed and baked, or prepared as ceviche.

Species Overview

Mero

The goliath grouper is the largest grouper in the Atlantic Ocean. This massive reef dweller can swallow prey whole and produces a distinctive booming sound by contracting its swim bladder to ward off intruders.

Summer Flounder

The summer flounder, or fluke, is a flatfish that lies camouflaged on the ocean floor. Born with eyes on both sides, one eye migrates to the left side during development. An ambush predator, it explodes upward to grab passing prey.