Editing Halibut (section)

==Physical characteristics==
The Pacific and Atlantic halibut are the world's largest flatfish, with debate over which grows larger.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1134/S0032945211020068 | volume=51 | title=Age and growth of the Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis and the size-age composition of its catches in the North-Western part of the Pacific Ocean | journal=Journal of Ichthyology | year=2011 | pages=306–323| last1=Orlov | first1=A. M. | last2=Kuznetsova | first2=E. N. | last3=Mukhametov | first3=I. N. | issue=4 | bibcode=2011JIch...51..306O | s2cid=45475596}}</ref><ref>[https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/pacific-halibut The National Marine Fisheries Service / NOAA, Pacific Halibut] Paragraph one, "About the Species."</ref><ref>[https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/atlantic-halibut The National Marine Fisheries Service / NOAA, Atlantic Halibut] "Biology."</ref> Halibut are dark brown on the top side with a white to off-white underbelly and have very small scales invisible to the naked eye embedded in their skin.<ref>[http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=halibut.main Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis)], Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Adfg.state.ak.us. Retrieved 19 August 2012.</ref> Halibut are symmetrical at birth with one eye on each side of the head. Then, about six months later, during larval metamorphosis one eye migrates to the other side of the head. The eyes are permanently set once the skull is fully ossified.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Mysterious Origin of the Wandering Eye|url=http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/07/09/the-mysterious-origin-of-the-w-1/|website=ScienceBlogs|publisher=ScienceBlogs LLC|access-date=27 January 2018}}</ref> At the same time, the stationary-eyed side darkens to match the top side, while the other side remains white. This color scheme disguises halibut from above (blending with the ocean floor) and from below (blending into the light from the sky) and is known as [[countershading]].

The [[IGFA]] size record for halibut was apparently broken off the waters of Norway in July 2013 by a {{convert|515|lb|kg|adj=on|abbr=off|order=flip}}, {{convert|2.62|m|ftin|abbr=off|adj=on}} fish. This was awaiting certification as of 2013.<ref>[https://wnwpressrelease.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/515-pound-halibut-caught-by-marco-leibenow-near-norway-may-be-world-record/ 515-Pound Halibut Caught By Marco Leibenow Near Norway May Be World Record] ''Woods 'n Water Magazine'', 19 August 2013.</ref> In July 2014, a {{convert|482|lb|kg|adj=on|order=flip}} Pacific halibut was caught in Glacier Bay, Alaska; this is, however, discounted from records because the halibut was shot and harpooned before being hauled aboard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/california-man-catches-482-pound-halibut-alaska |title=California man catches 482-pound halibut in Alaska |agency=Associated Press |date=11 July 2014 |access-date=27 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102213323/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/california-man-catches-482-pound-halibut-alaska |archive-date=2 November 2014 }}</ref>