Drab sole
📖 Overview
Adults occur in the littoral zone, down to 20 m depth, and on all sandy-muddy bottoms of estuaries, rivers and coastal streams where it penetrates far enough sometimes. They hide completely in the sediment, leaving out its eyes, in order to look out for predators and prey. Feed on small crustaceans and fish. Reproduction is like to occur between July and September . Maximum length reported to reach 37 cm TL .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Drab sole is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; amphidromous ; depth range 1 - 20 m . Tropical; 25°C - 28°C Central Atlantic: from the Gulf of Paria to the mouth of the Amazon river.
🌿 Ecology
small crustaceans and fish
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Drab sole is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Drab sole is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Drab sole has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Drab sole |
| 🇫🇷French | Sole sombre · Sole, Sole sombre |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Linguado-lixa · Solha, Sôia, Tapa, Aramaçá |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Achirus maculipinnis gunteri | Chabanaud | 1940 | Synonym |
| Monochir punctifer | Castelnau | 1855 | Synonym |
| Monochirus lineatus | Quoy & Gaimard | 1824 | Synonym |
| Pleuronectes achirus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 85 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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