Distribution and zoogeographical characteristics of Pleuronectiformes of Far Eastern seas of Russia
Zoogeographical composition of Pleuronectiformes of Far Eastern Seas has been characterized. The distribution of species and the dynamics of the fauna within the area including the Sea of Japan, the Okhatsk Sea, the Bering Sea, the Chukotka Sea, the Pacific Ocean waters adjacent Kamchatka and the Kurile Islands, has been analyzed. It has been revealed, that spatial organization of the fauna mentioned has indeed complicated hierarchical structure. In the diversity of flounder species the area studied demonstrates two large pools, each consisting of two subpools, embracing the units (districts) of a lower level. Every unit is more or less different from the other ones in the composition of flounder species. The list of species most typical for the flounder fauna of each certain zoogeographical unit has been provided depending on hierarchical levels. The data on the occurrence of flounder species diversity distribution centers have been figured out for most typical fauna of the northern and southern regions.