ExploreFish

Plaice

Pleuronectes platessa

Plaice is a flat fish with a tasty flavor. They often rest on the seabed and are known for their colorful spots!

Habitat: Sea floor

Appearance

The Plaice is a flatfish with both eyes positioned on its right side. Its olive-brown back is covered with bright, round orange or red spots, which help it blend into the seabed. Its underside is pure white.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopteriOrderPleuronectiformesFamilyPleuronectidaeGenusPleuronectes

Plaice

Interesting facts

Baby plaice start life swimming upright, then tilt over as they grow!

Plaice can live for almost 30 years, making them quite old for a fish!

Their unique orange spots are a tell-tale sign that it's a plaice!

You can tell a plaice's age by counting the rings on its ear bone!

Special abilities

Plaice can change their skin color and pattern because it helps them perfectly blend into the sandy or muddy seafloor.

Plaice has a super flat body that helps them hide from predators by burying themselves quickly into the seabed.

Plaice has eyes that move to one side as they grow, which helps them see above while lying flat on the ocean floor.

Measurements & details

Length: 25-50 cm
Weight: 0.5-2 kg
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Swim Speed: 10 km/h
Max Depth: 200 m
Water Type: Saltwater

Diet & Feeding

Plaice are hunters, munching on small sea creatures found hiding in the sand.

Age differences: Younger plaice eat smaller crustaceans, while adults tackle larger worms and molluscs.

Primary Foods

polychaete worms
small crustaceans
bivalve molluscs
brittle stars

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Atlantic Cod

Gadus morhua

Adult plaice can become prey for large cod.

eaten by

Harbor Seal

Phoca vitulina

Seals hunt plaice as part of their varied marine diet.

eats

Lugworm

Arenicola marina

Plaice actively forage for lugworms buried in the seabed.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Solitary

Meet animals that enjoy their independence! These creatures prefer to live by themselves, finding food and shelter on their own.

Camouflaged

Look closely for animals that are masters of disguise, blending perfectly into their surroundings! Their colors and patterns help them hide from others.

Colorful

Discover amazing plants and animals that show off a dazzling array of bright and beautiful hues! They use their vibrant colors to attract attention or send signals.

Piscivorous

Discover amazing animals that love to eat fish! They're like expert underwater hunters, always on the lookout for a tasty meal from the rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!

Aquatic

Discover amazing creatures that call water their home, whether it's oceans, rivers, or lakes! These habitats are full of incredible life.

Marine

Dive into the vast, salty waters of the ocean, teeming with an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales! It's a watery wonderland.