They have a stabilizing dorsal fin on top of the fish that stems from a point in front of the eyes.

[7] They have a basic lateral line organ to detect the movement of the water around them and lack a postcletherium.

[7] The Samaridae are native to marine areas in the Indo-Pacific region, from South Africa to Hawaii and New Caledonia.

[8] Samaridae are negatively buoyant and while they are able to swim through the water column, they spend most of their time on the ocean floor.

[9] Samaridae move across the sea floor through propulsion by the tail and assisted by the pectoral fins.

[6] Flatfish reproduction takes place over 3 stages: courtship, spawning rise, and a post-spawning return to the sea floor.

If the courtship is successful, they rise above the floor, the gametes are released, and then the flatfish return to the seafloor.

[9] A decrease in water temperature can lead to slowing muscle contraction and a reduction in the speed and endurance of flatfish, making them easier to catch in trawls.