# Atlantic halibut (*Hippoglossus hippoglossus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/atlantic-halibut  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), also called Halibut, is a bony fish in the family Pleuronectidae. It belongs to the order Pleuronectiformes, suborder Pleuronectoidei and subfamily Pleuronectinae, within the class Teleostei. The species was named by Linnaeus in 1758, and its authority is written (Linnaeus, 1758). The IUCN Red List global assessment places the Atlantic halibut in the Near Threatened (NT) category, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | up to 320 kg |
| Length | up to 4.7 m |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Longest recorded lifespan | 50 years |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Migration | Migratory |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Pleuronectiformes
- family: Pleuronectidae
- genus: Hippoglossus
- species: *Hippoglossus hippoglossus* (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms: *Hippoglossus americanus*, *Hippoglossus gigas*, *Hippoglossus hippoglossus*, *Hippoglossus linnei*, *Hippoglossus maximus*, *Hippoglossus maximus*, *Hippoglossus vulgaris*, *Pleuronectes hippoglossus*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the Atlantic halibut?

The Atlantic halibut is a bony fish in the family Pleuronectidae and the order Pleuronectiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the Atlantic halibut?

Its scientific name is Hippoglossus hippoglossus, and it belongs to the genus Hippoglossus.

### Is the Atlantic halibut endangered?

No, it is listed as Near Threatened (NT) in the IUCN Red List global assessment, which is not a threatened category.

### Who named the Atlantic halibut?

Linnaeus named it in 1758; the authority is written (Linnaeus, 1758).

### What other names does the Atlantic halibut have?

The Atlantic halibut is also called Halibut in English.

### Which class does the Atlantic halibut belong to?

The Atlantic halibut belongs to the class Teleostei, in the phylum Chordata and kingdom Animalia.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/atlantic-halibut