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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Subtropical

Thickback sole

Microchirus variegatus Donovan, 1808
Max Length
35 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
14 yrs
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
20–400 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Typical Length
14 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Inhabits mud or sand bottoms. Feeds on a wide range of small bottom-living organisms, mainly crustaceans (amphipods, shrimps), also polychaete worms and bivalve mollusks . Utilized as a food fish.

Scientific Name
Microchirus variegatus
Authority
Donovan, 1808
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
35 cm
Lifespan
14 years
Depth Range
20–400 m
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
44.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0. Upper eye less than its own diameter from dorsal profile of head. Anterior nostril on blind side not enlarged, its distance from front margin of head about twice in its distance from cleft of mouth. Anterior nostril on eyed side with backward-pointing tube reaching to front border of lower eye. Pectoral fin on eyed-side small, on blind side reduced.: short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Thickback sole is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 400 m . Subtropical; 60°N - 15°N, 18°W - 36°E Northeast Atlantic: British Isles south to Senegal (baie du Lévrier) and the Mediterranean.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.3±0.45
Food Items

a wide range of small bottom-living organisms, mainly crustaceans (amphipods, shrimps), also polycha

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00832 × L3.05 (TL)
Max TL
35cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2014

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
44.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Described By
Donovan, 1808

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Thickback sole is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • 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
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

⚡ Nutrition

Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central

Nutrient Amount
Protein 18.3 g
Omega-3 (total) 199 mg

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Thickback sole has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact
✓ Sustainable Choice

🔬 Full Nutritional Profile

Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)

Proximate Composition
Energy125 kcal
Moisture75 %
Protein20 %
Total Fat4 %
Ash1.3 %
Fatty Acids (g)
Saturated Fat1 g
Monounsaturated Fat1.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat1.5 g
Omega-3 Total1 g
EPA0.3 g
DHA0.5 g
Omega-6 Total0.3 g
Key Minerals & Vitamins
Calcium20 mg
Iron0.7 mg
Magnesium30 mg
Phosphorus220 mg
Potassium380 mg
Sodium55 mg
Zinc0.5 mg
Selenium32 µg
Vitamin B122 µg

📊 Population Dynamics

Year Region Index Notes
- - -

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 21 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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