Common sole

The common sole, Dover sole, or black sole (Solea solea) is a species of flatfish in the Soleidae family. It is a flatfish living on the sandy or muddy seabed of the northern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea where it often semi-immerses itself in the substrate. The upper side is greyish-brown while the underside is white. It grows to a maximum length of about 70 cm (28 in). This fish is used for human consumption and is prized as a food fish. It is caught mostly by trawling on the seabed. Greenpeace considers the fishery unsustainable and has added the Greenland halibut to its seafood red list.

Description

The small eyes are close to each other on the right side of the body. This gives the fish the possibility of lurking half-buried in the sand for passing prey. The common sole, just like all other flatfishes, hatches as an "ordinary" fish with one eye on each side of the body. The young metamorphose to flatfish when they are about one cm long. The upper side is greyish-brown and the underside is white. The common sole approaches a maximum length of 70 cm (28 in).