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Atlantic HalibutHippoglossus hippoglossus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Atlantic Halibut profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 52 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

NOAA Fisheries

Atlantic Halibut. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysThe world's largest flatfish
The source saysAtlantic halibut is the largest species of flatfish in the world.
The page saysSand, gravel and clay seabed of the northern Atlantic, 160 to 6,560 feet down
The source saysAtlantic halibut are demersal fish that live on or near sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 160 and 6,560 feet.
The page saysInvertebrates when small; almost exclusively fish from about 31 inches long
The source sayssmaller fish (up to 12 inches in length) feed almost exclusively on invertebrates. The proportion of fish in the diet increases as the fish grow in size until they feed almost exclusively on fishes when they reach approximately 31 inches.
The page saysThe adult ends up as a right-eyed flounder. NOAA tells it from other right-eyed flounders by its size, a concave tail fin, a large gaping mouth and an arched lateral line.
The source saysAtlantic halibut can be distinguished from other right-eyed flounders by their large size, concave caudal fin, large, gaping mouth, and arched lateral line.
The page saysThe largest Atlantic halibut on record was taken off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and weighed 615 pounds gutted with the head still attached
The source saysThe largest Atlantic halibut recorded was taken off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and weighed 615 pounds (eviscerated with the head still attached).
The page saysNOAA estimates it weighed about 700 pounds alive
The source saysIt likely weighed 700 pounds when it was alive.
The page sayssays it can reach up to 15 feet in length
The source saysAtlantic halibut can reach up to 15 feet in length
The page saysFull-grown females average 100 to 150 pounds, and males tend to be smaller
The source saysFull grown females average 100 to 150 pounds, while males tend to be smaller.
The page saysNOAA calls it a long-lived, late-maturing species: it can live up to 50 years
The source saysIt is a long-lived, late-maturing species that can live up to 50 years.
The page saysthe average age at maturity is about 10 years
The source saysAverage age at maturity is about 10 years.
The page saysSmall halibut, up to about 12 inches long, feed almost exclusively on invertebrates
The source sayssmaller fish (up to 12 inches in length) feed almost exclusively on invertebrates
The page saysThe proportion of fish in the diet increases as they grow, and by roughly 31 inches they eat almost exclusively fish
The source saysThe proportion of fish in the diet increases as the fish grow in size until they feed almost exclusively on fishes when they reach approximately 31 inches
The page saysThey live on or near sand, gravel or clay at depths of 160 to 6,560 feet
The source sayslive on or near sand, gravel or clay bottoms at depths of between 160 and 6,560 feet
The page saysThe range runs from Labrador and Greenland to Iceland, and from the Barents Sea south to the Bay of Biscay and Virginia
The source saysAtlantic halibut are found from Labrador and Greenland to Iceland, and from the Barents Sea south to the Bay of Biscay and Virginia.
The page saysIn U.S. waters, they are most common in the Gulf of Maine
The source saysIn U.S. waters, halibut is most common in the Gulf of Maine.
The page saysNOAA's 2024 stock assessment found the stock overfished
The source saysAccording to the 2024 stock assessment, the Atlantic halibut stock is overfished.
The page saysA rebuilding plan has a target date of 2055
The source saysA rebuilding plan to rebuild the stock to the target population level is in place with a target date of 2055.
The page saysIn 2024, U.S. commercial landings totalled 76,000 pounds, valued at about $480,000
The source saysIn 2024, commercial landings of Atlantic halibut totaled 76,000 pounds and were valued at approximately $480,000
The page saysfederal waters have a limit of one fish per vessel per trip
The source saysRegulations include a minimum fish size and a limit of one fish per vessel per trip in federal waters.
The page saysNOAA calls it the largest species of flatfish in the world
The source saysAtlantic halibut is the largest species of flatfish in the world.
The page saysThe Atlantic halibut is a flatfish
The source saysAtlantic halibut is the largest species of flatfish in the world.
The page saysUp to 15 feet long, says NOAA
The source saysAtlantic halibut can reach up to 15 feet in length
The page saysAn average full-grown female weighs 100 to 150 pounds
The source saysFull grown females average 100 to 150 pounds
The page saysThe record fish, landed off Cape Ann in Massachusetts, weighed 615 pounds with its guts removed and probably about 700 pounds alive
The source saysThe largest Atlantic halibut recorded was taken off Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and weighed 615 pounds (eviscerated with the head still attached). It likely weighed 700 pounds when it was alive.
The page saysUp to 50 years, according to NOAA
The source sayscan live up to 50 years
The page saysThey are slow to breed as well: on average they mature at about 10 years old
The source saysIt is a long-lived, late-maturing species that can live up to 50 years. Average age at maturity is about 10 years.
The page saysIt depends on size
The source saysHalibut food preferences vary by fish size
The page saysHalibut up to 12 inches long eat almost exclusively invertebrates
The source sayssmaller fish (up to 12 inches in length) feed almost exclusively on invertebrates
The page saysThe share of fish in the diet climbs as they grow, until at approximately 31 inches they eat almost exclusively fish
The source saysThe proportion of fish in the diet increases as the fish grow in size until they feed almost exclusively on fishes when they reach approximately 31 inches
The page saysThe Atlantic halibut is the largest flatfish in the world
The source saysAtlantic halibut is the largest species of flatfish in the world.Note: vibe.reason
The page saystakes about 10 years to mature
The source saysAverage age at maturity is about 10 years.Note: vibe.reason
The page saysweightKg: 57
The source saysFull grown females average 100 to 150 pounds, while males tend to be smaller.Note: task #1267: 125 lb midpoint is 57 kg; 45 to 68 kg is Medium class throughout
The page saystags: giant-size
The source saysAtlantic halibut is the largest species of flatfish in the world.Note: task #1267

Source
02

FishBase

Hippoglossus hippoglossus summary page. FishBase.

The page saysNear Threatened, in an assessment from 2021
The source saysNear Threatened (NT) ; Date assessed: 12 February 2021
The page saysIt is uniformly dark brown or black, while young fish are marbled or spotted with paler marks
The source saysUniformly dark brown or black; young marbled or spotted with paler marks
The page saysIts genus name comes from Greek for "horse tongue"
The source saysHippoglossus: Greek, ippos = horse + Greek, glossa = tongue
The page saysFishBase gives 7 to 8 years for males and 10 to 11 for females
The source saysMales reach sexual maturity at 7-8 years and females at 10-11 years.
The page sayswith slow growth and late maturity, halibut populations can be seriously affected by overfishing
The source saysSlow growth rate and late onset of sexual maturity, halibut populations can be seriously affected by overfishing
The page saysFishBase says they feed mainly on cod, haddock, pogge, sand-eels, herring and capelin, but also take cephalopods and large crustaceans
The source saysFeed mainly on other fishes (cod, haddock, pogge, sand-eels, herring, capelin), but also takes cephalopods, large crustaceans and other bottom-living animals.
The page saysAdults are benthic, meaning they live on the bottom, though they are occasionally pelagic
The source saysAdults are benthic but occasionally pelagic
The page sayslives mostly on the bottom as an adult
The source saysAdults are benthic but occasionally pelagicNote: vibe.reason

Source
03

Bolstad & Novales Flamarique 2022

Bolstad & Novales Flamarique (2022). Chromatic organization of retinal photoreceptors during eye migration of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Journal of Comparative Neurology.

The page saysa fish that moves one of its eyes across its head
The source saysthe metamorphic process whereby one eye migrates to the other side of the head
The page saysMoves an eye to the other side of its head during metamorphosis
The source saysthe metamorphic process whereby one eye migrates to the other side of the head
The page saysin flatfishes eye migration is the metamorphic process (a change in body form) whereby one eye migrates to the other side of the head
The source saysIn flatfishes experiencing eye migration (i.e., the metamorphic process whereby one eye migrates to the other side of the head)
The page saysthe larva's hexagonal lattice of single cones gives way to a mostly square mosaic of four double cones around each single cone
The source saysthe hexagonal lattice of single cones present in the larva undergoes major restructuring resulting in a dominant square mosaic postmetamorphosis consisting of four double cones surrounding each single cone
The page saysIt happens during metamorphosis, a big change in body form. In flatfishes this is called eye migration: one eye travels across to the other side of the head
The source saysIn flatfishes experiencing eye migration (i.e., the metamorphic process whereby one eye migrates to the other side of the head)
The page saysThe retina is restructured along the way, with the larva's hexagonal pattern of single cone cells giving way to a mostly square one
The source saysthe hexagonal lattice of single cones present in the larva undergoes major restructuring resulting in a dominant square mosaic postmetamorphosis

Source
04

Sæle et al. 2004

Sæle et al. (2004). Staging of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) from first feeding through metamorphosis, including cranial ossification independent of eye migration. Aquaculture.

The page saysthe frontal bone shows torsion (a twist) correlated with eye migration
The source saysThe Frontale exhibited torsion correlated with eye migration
The page saysmetamorphosis is protracted in halibut
The source saysBecause metamorphosis is protracted in halibut
The page saysthough its full hardening into bone is independent of the eye's move
The source sayscalcification began earlier and full calcification was independent of ocular displacement
The page sayswith a metamorphosis that is drawn out
The source saysBecause metamorphosis is protracted in halibutNote: vibe.reason

Source
05

Cadrin et al. 2022

Cadrin et al. (2022). Hippoglossus hippoglossus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T10097A148035632.

The page saysNear Threatened
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Near Threatened (NT).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.