Halibut are
flatfish, genus
Hippoglossus, from the family of the right-eye
flounders (
Pleuronectidae). Other flatfish also contain the word
halibut in their common (non-scientific) names. The word is derived from
haly (holy) and
butte (flat fish), for its popularity on Catholic holy days. Halibut are
demersal fish which live in the North Pacific (
Pacific halibut,
Hippoglossus stenolepis) and the North Atlantic oceans (
Atlantic halibut,
Hippoglossus hippoglossus). They are highly regarded food fish.