New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Ovate Sole

Solea ovata Richardson, 1846
Max Length
10 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.5
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
18.00/100
Typical Length
8.5 cm
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Ovate Sole (Solea ovata), first described by Richardson, 1846 is a small fish in the family Soleidae (order Pleuronectiformes). Adults typically reach 10.00 cm in maximum length. It inhabits marine coastal and open-ocean environments. It occurs in Tropical waters. It feeds on a mix of small fish and invertebrates as a mid-level predator. On the IUCN Red List, it is classified as Least Concern.The species is important as a food fish and considered a sustainable seafood option under current management. As a member of the Soleidae, it shares life-history and morphological traits with its relatives in the group.

Scientific Name
Solea ovata
Authority
Richardson, 1846
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
10 cm
Trophic Level
3.5
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
18.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Physical description for Ovate Sole is currently being compiled.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Ovate 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

Habitat and distribution data for Ovate Sole is currently being compiled.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.5±0.44
Food Items

benthic invertebrates, especially crustaceans

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00977 × L3.1 (TL)
Max TL
10cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2019

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
18.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.5
Predator
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Richardson, 1846

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Ovate 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

Detailed nutritional data for Ovate Sole is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Ovate 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
- - -

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English ovate sole
🌍THA ปลาลิ้นหมาเล็ก · ปลาใบไม้กลม
🇨🇳Chinese 卵鰨 · 比目魚 · 鰨沙 · 龍舌

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Microbuglossus humilis Cantor 1849 Synonym
Microbuglossus ovatus Richardson 1846 Synonym
Solea humilis Cantor 1849 Synonym
Solea maculata Bleeker 1851 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 3 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Ovate Sole ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.