Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepsis)

Watercolor, colored pencil & acrylic

Pacific halibut are the largest flatfishes in the world, reaching up to 8 feet and 500 pounds. They are also quite flavorful which makes them a popular sport fish and very important to the fishing industry. Populations are most commonly found on the Continental shelf of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea and commercial fishing is done off the coast of Alaska and western North America. Halibut live primarily near the ocean floor and are quite effective at camouflage which protects them from predators. Their dorsal or upper side is dark and spotty, merging seamlessly with the ocean floor, while their very pale ventral side blends with the sky above. They are strong swimmers and tend to migrate in a clockwise direction, from their shallow feeding ground in summer to deeper spawning grounds in winter. The eyes of these right-eyed flatfish begin on each side of the head but migrate as it develops, resulting in both eyes on the top of the head. For more about this species, visit NOAA Fisheries >>

Project: Commission for high-end seafood restaurant as part of their sustainability information. Available for re-use

Original: available

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 For re-use of this image, please contact me directly at tam@tamaraclark.com. Please do not re-use without permission.