pātiki
1. (verb) to be flat, level.
Synonyms: kaupae, taumata, tautika, whakatūpā, tūpā, papatahi, paparite, papatairite, whakapaparanga, apaapa, apa, kōeke, kōeketanga, paparanga
2. (noun) flounder (a general term for flounder-type fish).
I ētahi pō, ka haere a Tīpene ki te rama tuna, ka wero pātiki anō ia ina kitea e ia ētahi (HP 1991:17). / Some nights Stephen would go to hunt for eels by torchlight and spear flounder whenever he saw some.
3. (noun) black flounder, Rhombosolea retiaria - an exceedingly flattened fresh water endemic fish with both eyes on the top side. Dark greenish-black with masses of bright brick-red and paler grey spots on the upper surface. Lower surface is grey-white. Widespread in coastal waters in harbours, river mouths and estuaries.
Synonyms: pātiki mohoao, mohoao
4. (noun) sand flounder, Rhombosolea plebeia - undivided to slightly divided anterior and pelvic fin rays and has a distinctive rhomboidal shape. Endemic and widespread. Adults found sub-tidally to depths of 100 m, especially on soft seabeds.
5. (noun) greenback flounder, Rhombosolea tapirina - well developed fleshy snout partly overhanging the mouth. In Aotearoa/New Zealand waters it occurs off tge east and south coasts of the South Island.
6. (noun) lemon sole, Pelotretis flavilatus - grey-to-brown fish with greenish tinge, mottled white on underside. Body oval, wider at front. Scales rough and eyes large. Endemic and found on sandy seabedsthroughout Aotearoa/New Zealand in depths of 4-618 m.
7. (noun) New Zealand turbot, Colistium nudipinnis - brownish-green with irregular darker blotches, pale on underside. Body oval. Snout with a hook-like projection that overlaps the jaws. Endemic fish that occurs from Northland coast to the south coast of the South Island, inhabiting sand and mud seabed in nearshore and subtidal areas up to 50 m.
