The
lemon sole,
Microstomus kitt, is a
flatfishThe flatfish are an order of ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. The name means "side-swimmers" in Greek. In many species both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through and around the head during development...
of the family
PleuronectidaeRighteye flounders are a family, Pleuronectidae, of flounders. They are called "righteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their left side, with both eyes on the right side. While the Paralichthyidae are the opposite with their eyes on the left side.Their dorsal and anal fins...
. It is native to shallow seas around
Northern EuropeNorthern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as including the following countries and dependent regions:** ** ** Ireland** Svalbard and Jan Mayen** ** Channel Islands: and...
, where it lives on stony bottoms down to depths of about . It grows up to in length and reaches about in weight.
It is a popular food fish.
The lemon sole is a right-eyed flatfish with a small head and mouth and smooth, slimy skin. The upper surface is reddish brown in colour, mottled with pink and orange and flecks of yellow and green, and a prominent orange patch is typically found behind the pectoral fin, around which the
lateral lineIn aquatic organisms , the lateral line is a sense organ used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. Lateral lines are usually visible as faint lines running lengthwise down each side, from the vicinity of the gill covers to the base of the tail...
also curves.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Lemon sole' Start a new discussion about 'Lemon sole' Answer questions from other users |
The
lemon sole,
Microstomus kitt, is a
flatfishThe flatfish are an order of ray-finned fish, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. The name means "side-swimmers" in Greek. In many species both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through and around the head during development...
of the family
PleuronectidaeRighteye flounders are a family, Pleuronectidae, of flounders. They are called "righteye flounders" because most species lie on the sea bottom on their left side, with both eyes on the right side. While the Paralichthyidae are the opposite with their eyes on the left side.Their dorsal and anal fins...
. It is native to shallow seas around
Northern EuropeNorthern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as including the following countries and dependent regions:** ** ** Ireland** Svalbard and Jan Mayen** ** Channel Islands: and...
, where it lives on stony bottoms down to depths of about . It grows up to in length and reaches about in weight.
It is a popular food fish.
Identification
The lemon sole is a right-eyed flatfish with a small head and mouth and smooth, slimy skin. The upper surface is reddish brown in colour, mottled with pink and orange and flecks of yellow and green, and a prominent orange patch is typically found behind the pectoral fin, around which the
lateral lineIn aquatic organisms , the lateral line is a sense organ used to detect movement and vibration in the surrounding water. Lateral lines are usually visible as faint lines running lengthwise down each side, from the vicinity of the gill covers to the base of the tail...
also curves. The underside of the fish is white. Adults can reach lengths of up to , but most measure around .
Fishing
In 2007 the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 Member States, located primarily in Europe. Committed to regional integration, the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community...
fishing quotaThe Common Fisheries Policy is the fisheries policy of the European Union. It sets quotas for which member states are allowed to catch what amounts of each type of fish, as well as encouraging the fishing industry by various market interventions...
, or Total Allowable Catch (TAC), for lemon sole (and
witchThe witch or Torbay sole is a right-eyed flatfish found in the North Atlantic.The species lives on soft bottoms between 45 and 1460 m and prefers temperatures of 2–6 ºC. It eats mostly crustaceans, worms and brittlestars. It spawns from May to September...
) was 6,175 tonnes, of which 3,716 tonnes were caught, mostly by UK fishermen. The quota for 2008 was 6,793 tonnes and the quota for 2009 is 6,793 tonnes.
The
Marine Stewardship CouncilThe Marine Stewardship Council is an independent non-profit organization that has established a global environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. The MSC programme is voluntary and fisheries that are assessed and meet the standard can use the MSC blue ecolabel. The MSC...
rates lemon sole at 2/3 on its sustainability scale (where 1 is best and 5 is worst) depending on how and where it is caught.
See also
Several other species of flatfish are known as lemon soles:
- English sole
The English sole, Parophrys vetulus, is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. It is a demersal fish that lives on sandy and muddy bottoms in estuaries and near shore areas, at depths of up to . It reaches up to in length, and can weigh up to...
, Parophrys vetulus.
- Southern lemon sole
The southern lemon sole, Pelotretis flavilatus, is a righteye flounder, the only species in the genus Pelotretis, found around New Zealand in enclosed waters such as estuaries, harbours, mudflats, and sandflats, in waters less than 385 m in depth...
, Pelotretis flavilatus.
- Winter flounder
The winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus, is a flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae. It is native to coastal waters of the western north Atlantic coast, from Labrador, Canada to Georgia, United States. In the waters from Newfoundland down through Massachusetts Bay it is the most common...
, Pseudopleuronectes americanus.
- South African lemon sole, Solea fulvomarginata.