Sole fish - one of the most valuable flatfish

Video: Sole fish.

Sole fish

Sole is a type of flatfish of varying families. The name 'sole' comes from its resemblance to a sandal, Latin solea. In other languages, it is named for the tongue, e.g. in German, Zunge, in Spanish, lenguado.

The true soles are a family of flatfishes (Soleidae) and include species that live in salt water and fresh water. They are bottom-dwelling fishes feeding on small crustaceans and other invertebrates.

Soles begin life as bilaterally symmetric larvae, with an eye on each side of the head. But during development the left eye moves around onto the right side of the head. Adult soles lie on their left (blind) side on the sea floor, often covered in mud which, in combination with their dark colours, makes them hard to spot.

The most popular sole fish is called common sole or Dover sole

Common sole. Image source: Wikipedia, Hans Hillewaert, Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 License.

The common sole or Dover sole, Solea solea, approaches a maximum length of approximately 70 cm.

Chefs prize Dover sole for its mild, buttery sweet flavour and versatility and for its ease of filleting. The name "Dover" comes from Dover, the English fishing port landing the most sole in the 19th century.

The true soles Soleidae (including the common or Dover sole) are the only fishes called 'soles' in Europe.

Other flatfishes

Other flatfishes are also also commonly known as soles although, strictly speaking, they do not belong to the soles family.

Flounder is not from the soles family

Flounder (alternative name Fluke) is an ocean-dwelling flatfish species that is found in coastal lagoons and estuaries of the Northern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Sole and flounder are completely different species, although superficially, quite similat to look at. Both are saltwater 'flat' fish that are frequently found in estuaries. Both are prized as a food fish, with Sole being the "fish of choice." Typically, flounders tend to be more circular in shape (and heavier), whilst sole tend more towards an oval shape.

References:

Soleidae. Wikipedia.

Common sole. Wikipedia.

Sole (fish). Wikipedia.

Flounder. Wikipedia.

Are sole and flounder the same fish? Wiki Answers.

Fishing For Answers: How To Choose Fish and Seafood | Summer Tomato http://goo.gl/0OBf

Related: