Diversity and Similarity of Flatfishes (order- Pleuronectiformes) in Mon State, Myanmar - Diversity and Similarity of Flatfishes (order- Pleuronectiformes) in Mon State, Myanmar - Open Access Pub

The samples of flatfishes were collected along the Mon State from July to December 2017 including Mawlamyine, Kyaikkhami, Setse, Zee-Phyu-Thaung Belugyun island, Paung and Thaton. The total 21 species of flatfishes were recorded in Mon State. Moreover, the relative abundance, diversity and similarity were conducted using Simpson Index, Shannon index and Jacquard’s index etc. According to the present study, the Cynoglossidae was the most dominant family and the most dominant species was Cynoglossusarelfor the present study. The relative abundance of Mawlamyine and November was relatively the highest. Furthermore, Mawlamyine was the highest diversity and Thaton was the lowest diversity. The JI value between Mawlamyine and Paung is the highest while it is the lowest between Setse and Thaton. Likewise, the JI value between August and September and the value between September and November are the same as well as the highest while it is the lowest for the comparison between July and August. The present study also expects to become a basic informational providing data for further observing (in Academic) on Order Pleuronectiformes (flatfishes) along the Mon State. DOI10.14302/issn.2643-0282.imsj-18-2486 Pleuronectiformes were first named in 1758 by Linnaeus; pleuromeaning "on side" and nectomeaning "swim". Flatfishes are easy to recognize since this is the only group of fishes that is not bilaterally symmetrical. The ventral side of the body is eyeless and white, while the dorsal is dark and has both eyes. They swim by the undulation of the body, and usually remain close to the bottom on the continental shelf. Flatfishes are one of the important components in several demersal communities around the world. Flatfishes are also important predators in many demersal communities. They may serve as an important link between demersal production and human consumption9. The flatfishes are one of the most important economic groups of marine fishes in Myanmar. From the commercial point of view, all species are locally known as “Khway-Shar”. It yields 2277.35 tones and by percentage, it had 4.41 % of the Myanmar marine fish landings in Yangon, the business city of Myanmar for 200510. The present study area, called Mon state is an administrative division of Myanmar. It is sandwiched between Kayin State in the east, the Andaman Sea in the west, Bago Region in the north and Tanintharyi Region in the south. The land area is 12, 155 km2. The state of capital is Mawlamyine. Bordering Bago Division in the south of Sittaung river mouth, Kayin state in the east, Thailand and