Butter sole
📖 Overview
Common in shallow water on soft, silty bottom. Moves into shallow water in summer and to deeper water in winter . Spawning adults exhibit north-south migrations . Feeds on chaetopod marine worms, young herring, shrimps, and sand dollars . A tasty food fish, sometimes marketed . Also used for mink food .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 78 - 92; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 58 - 69; Vertebrae: 39 - 42. Dorsal origin above eye. Caudal rounded. Pectoral small, bluntly pointed.: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Butter sole is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; oceanodromous ; depth range 20 - 425 m . Temperate; 66°N - 32°N
🌿 Ecology
chaetopod marine worms, young herring, shrimps, and sand dollars (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.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Butter Sole |
| 🇫🇷French | plie à écailles régulières |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Изопсетта |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 白令海等鰭鰈 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lepidopsetta isolepis | Lockington | 1880 | Synonym |
| Pleuronectes isolepis | Lockington | 1880 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 8 records indexed .
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