Flathead sole
📖 Overview
Found on soft bottom . Adults usually below 180 m . Feed on clams, worms and crustaceans . Taken by shrimp and otter trawls .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 75 - 85; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 55 - 68; Vertebrae: 42 - 46. Dorsal origin over anterior part of upper eye. Caudal with small elongation in center. Pectorals rather large with rounded tips.: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Flathead sole is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; oceanodromous ; depth range 0 - 1050 m . Temperate; 51°N - 29°N, 97°E - 90°W North Pacific: Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, and the Bering Sea along the western coast of America to Pt.
🌿 Ecology
clams, worms and crustaceans (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Flathead 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
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 16.8 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 368 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Flathead 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 (lean white fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Flathead Sole |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Nordpacifisk håising |
| 🇫🇷French | plie à tête plate |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Uma-garei · Umagarei · ウマガレイ |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Plaskoglów |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Solha-japonesa |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Камбала узкозубая (охотоморская, северная) палтусовидная · Узкозубая палтусовидная камбала |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 太平洋擬庸鰈 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 15 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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