Lemon sole
📖 Overview
Lives most often on stony bottoms. Feeds on a variety of small invertebrates, but polychaetes seem to dominate. Apparently they do not feed in wintertime . Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, microwaved and baked .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Small head and mouth. Body is oval. Skin is marbled and smooth. Lateral line almost straight, slight curve above the pectoral fin .: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Lemon sole is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Lemon sole is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Spawning is mainly confined to depths of 55-91 m in the northwestern North Sea and commences at a minimum temperature of 6.5 °C in Scottish waters. Sex ratio is about 1:1, but females progressively predominate upon sexual maturity.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; demersal; oceanodromous ; depth range 10 - 200 m, usually 10 - 150 m . Temperate; 72°N - 43°N, 26°W - 45°E Northeast Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to the White Sea and off Iceland.
🌿 Ecology
a variety of small invertebrates, but polychaetes seem to dominate
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Lemon 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 | 17 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 301 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Lemon sole has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Lemon Sole · Lemon dab · Lemon fish · Mary sole · Smear dab · Sweet fluke |
| 🌍BRE | lizen mean |
| 🌍CES | platýs červený |
| 🌍CYM | Lledod Llyfn · lleden lefn |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Almindelig rødtunge · Rødtunge |
| 🇩🇪German | Echte Rotzunge · Limande · Rotzunge |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | Pikkupääkampela |
| 🇫🇷French | Limande-sole · Limande-sole commune · limande sole · sole limande |
| 🇭🇺Hungarian | Kisfejű lepényhal |
| 🌍ISL | þykkvalúra |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Sogliola limanda |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ニシナメタガレイ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Schotse schol · Tongschar |
| 🌍NNO | landtunge · lomre · oterflyndre · raudtunge · bergflyndre |
| 🌍NOB | bergflyndre · lomre · landtunge · oterflyndre · rødtunge |
| 🇳🇴Norwegian | Bergflyndre · Lombe · Lomre |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Zlocica europejska · złocica europejska |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Solha-limao |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Малоротая камбала |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Mendo limón · Mendo limón lengua lisa |
| 🇸🇪Swedish | Bergskädda · Bergtunga |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 小頭油鰈 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microstomus latidens | Gottsche | 1835 | Synonym |
| Microstomus microcephalus | Donovan | 1803 | Synonym |
| Platessa microcephala | - | - | Synonym |
| Platessa pola | Cuvier | 1829 | Synonym |
| Pleuronectes gilli | Steindachner | 1868 | Synonym |
| Pleuronectes kitt | Walbaum | 1792 | Synonym |
| Pleuronectes laevis | Shaw | 1803 | Synonym |
| Pleuronectes microcephalus | Donovan | 1803 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 28 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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