| Family: |
Soleidae (Soles) |
| Max. size: |
10 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 5 - 37 m |
| Distribution: |
Southeast Atlantic: Mauritania to south of Angola (Ref. 5304). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 104-113; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 72-74. Diagnosis: flat and asymmetric body; eyes located on right side of head, except in reversed individuals; preopercle covered by skin and opercle entirely scaled; mouth small, more or less arched and inferior; dorsal and anal fins lacking spinous rays and separated from caudal fin; dorsal fin originating on upper edge of mouth; pectoral fins absent; pelvic fins asymmetrical, the one on eyed side united to anal fin; lateral line straight along each side; body covered with ctenoid scales (Ref. 57416).
Description: anterior profile widely rounded, ending in very broad, slightly prominent snout that is extended ventrally into long hook-shaped appendix; eyes small, dorsal eye widely separated from head profile; eyed side with single nostril, anterior being simple tube, left side with two close-set nostrils located above mouth, anterior represented by tube ending in slightly enlarged and rosette-shaped opening (Ref. 57416).
Colouration: eyed side yellowish, mottled with brownish-black and a number of irregular, paler spots scattered over its entire surface; in some specimens there is series of brown spots at bases of dorsal and anal fins; these fins always comprise some odd blackish rays (Ref. 57416). |
| Biology: |
A marine species also occurring in brackish waters and recorded from water practically free of salt in Cameroon (Ref. 6805). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 15 July 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
