Sole
ExploreFish
Sole
Soleidae
Sole is a flat fish that lives on the ocean floor. They have a delicate flavor and are a favorite in many dishes!
Habitat: Sandy ocean floors
Appearance
The Sole has a flat, oval-shaped body with both eyes located on one side of its head, usually the right. Its skin is typically mottled brown, grey, or sandy to perfectly blend with the seafloor.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderPleuronectiformesFamilySoleidae
Category
FishRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Many sole species can squirt jets of water from their mouths to uncover hidden prey!
Most sole prefer to lie on their left side, with both eyes looking up from the right.
Sole fish use special taste buds on their fins to 'sniff out' food buried in the sand.
Their flat bodies help them squeeze into tiny spaces on the seafloor to hide.
Special abilities
Ability
Perfect Camouflage
Sole can change their skin color and pattern to match the seabed, helping them disappear from predators.
Ability
Sand Burial
Sole can quickly bury themselves in sand or mud, hiding completely from plain sight.
Ability
Migrating Eyes
Sole are born with eyes on opposite sides, but one eye moves to the other side as they grow.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 20-70 cm
- Weight
- 0.1-3 kg
- Lifespan
- 5-20 years
- Swim Speed
- 5 km/h
- Maximum Depth
- 200 m
- Water Type
- Saltwater
Diet & Feeding
Sole are expert hunters, feasting on small worms, crustaceans, and shellfish found in the seafloor.
Primary Foods
- polychaete worms
- small crustaceans
- bivalve mollusks
- amphipods
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
A common predator of many sole species.
eaten by
Small-spotted catshark
Scyliorhinus canicula
Hunts flatfish like sole on the seabed.
eats
Ragworm
Hediste diversicolor
A primary food source for sole, dug from the sand.
eats
Common shrimp
Crangon crangon
Sole forage for these small crustaceans on the seafloor.
Traits
Wildlife
Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
Camouflaged
Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Piscivorous
Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish.
Aquatic
Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Marine
Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life.
Also known as
Common SoleDover SoleSole Fish
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Sole?
20-70 cm
How much does Sole weigh?
0.1-3 kg
How long does Sole live?
5-20 years
What does Sole eat?
Sole are expert hunters, feasting on small worms, crustaceans, and shellfish found in the seafloor.
How fast can Sole swim?
5 km/h
Where is Sole usually found?
Sandy ocean floors
How does Sole hunt?
Foraging
How deep can Sole go?
200 m
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