While true, movements of the species can be tracked for instances of displacement as well as seasonal cycles of migration–both of which "appear to be triggered by changes in water temperature, light, current velocity, and irregular episodic events.

The location of turbots is cryptic and multivariable, consisting of a mixture of both these cycles, an internal "clock" mechanism, and other factors such as turbulence, hunger, and magnetic fields.

Actinopterygii, or ray-finned fish, share traits will all prior marine vertebrates (i.e. a skeleton, paired fins, cycloid or ctenoid scales, covered gills, homocercal tails, protrusible jaws, etc...)[8] The main requirements for the taxa are fin-rays (of which make up the fins and are responsible the name of the clade) and a swim bladder (a derived trait of this phylogenetic group).

[3][4] Poking eyes out of the substrate and using this dorsal fin akin to a rudder, these three traits all serve the flatfish in its benthic lifestyle.

This pigmentation serves as a camouflage for the fish and allows them to increase their survivorship via heightened predator avoidance and improved hunting behaviors.

These five anatomical traits are as follows: (i) "The anterior extension of the two pelvic fins to the isthmus" [2] (ii) "Slightly asymmetric lateral expansions on both pelvic bones" [2] (iii) "An elongated anterior supraoccipital process (often crenulated) in contact with the dorsal margin of the right (blind-side) frontal" [2] (iv) "The presence of asymmetrical transverse apophyses on the caudal vertebrae" [2] (v) "The first neural spine bent at contact with the dorsal margin of the cranium" [2] Other non-defining traits of scophthalmids that are not specific to the family are their large and prominent lower jaws, sinistral eyes, and the single oil globule present in the yolks of their eggs.

[4] Scophthalmids live a fairly sedentary lifestyle in comparison to other ray-finned fish, and due to their negative buoyancy spend most of their time below other taxa.

Being asymmetrical and spending most of their time on the bottom substrates, scophthalmids have evolved unique locomotive systems to better fit their lifestyle.

Using both of these adaptations in tandem, the fishes can change the angle of their projection, and shoot themselves into the water column by lifting their heads and then executing a 'rapid propulsive stroke.'

This is highly useful to escape predation, initiate gliding, or journey far distances while conserving energy (e.g. traveling between feeding and spawning sites).

[6] Besides the lever-system that can propel the fish in the transverse plane, scophthalmids also have unique systems to control their vertical and horizontal movements.

[9] To initiate this important and unique behavior, flatfish vigorously beat their heads "against the sediment, accompanied by a wave of muscular [contractions] that [travel] with decreasing amplitude down the length of the body."

This odd combination of muscle contractions complete two primary tasks: (i) First, the head is driven into the substrate in the first half of the movement.

The Behaviour of Flatfish does not explain as to why this is, but it could be speculated that the murkiness caused by burying in muddy substrates can be rather visible to predators, counteracting the primary function of this behavior.

Scophthalmids are believed to be capable of lowering heart rates and well as decreasing oxygen consumption, in turn sending less involuntary cues of their presence and reduce the chemical signals sent to predators.

[6][10] While making Scophthalmidae more susceptible to climate change, this force also helps dictate population size and drives growth to be proportional to the various seasons.

[6] Spawning tends to take place in the evening, and males and females generally pair due to relative body size.

"[6] This in turn inclines males to approach and produce a threat signal, circling the female "flagging with the pectoral fin.

Two of these methods, a vulnerability assessment and simulation model projections, help pinpoint the regions at highest risk of this change and align with previously mentioned latitudinal gradient predictions.

[3][4][13][14] Interestingly enough, the rapid warming was exacerbated regionally due to factors such as human populations, freshwater prevalence, and land-locking.

[11] In addition to this fact, the increasingly negative population dynamics of all flatfish indicates that the clade has reached its maximum potential.

The growing restriction on oxygen levels proportional to the increase in temperature negatively affects body size, adding yet another side effect to the changing climate.

[20] Frowned upon by marine biologists, bottom trawling is harmful to the ecosystem due to the displacement of sediment and organisms as well as the irreversible damage it creates.

[20] In addition to negatively affecting the ecosystem, bottom trawling proves to be highly dangerous to scophthalmids as well as other families of flatfish.

[7] These strategies combine various techniques such as " burial, highly evolved cryptic capabilities, and low activity," [7] all of which are useless and therefore detrimental in fighting trawls.

[7] Highly specialized behaviors are hard to change, making the flatfishes' natural instinct to minimize detection rendered useless.

Scophthalmidae share a strong inclination to bury themselves and to cease movement, fighting the desire to flee until extremely close to detection.

Only able to sustain a certain speed at relatively lower rates than most roundfish, flatfish tend to respond to the trawls in short bursts and generally remain unresponsive until "approx.

"[7] After observing the adaptations Scophthalmidae have made to survive in the Ocean, bottom trawling proves to be a major industrial threat to scophthalmids because of its own nature in specifically targeting and taking advantage of flatfish behavior.