Plainfin Sole (Achirus declivis)

Also known as Lost Sole

Description

Also known as Lost Sole.

Found singly, in shallow, soft bottomed, coastal and estuarine areas, often partially buried or resting on the sand. This highly compressed fish buries itself beneath the sand, exposing only its eye and tubular nostril. Moves extremely fast when disturbed, and is difficult to detect when it resettles. More active at night.
They feed nocturnally on small fish and benthic invertebrates.
Length - 18cm
Depth - 1-31m
Widespread Western Atlantic, Caribbean

Flatfish, Soles and Flounders are placed in their families by location of their eyes. Their are both left eye and right eye dominant families.
Flatfish bury themselves in sand to hide from predators and use their eyes as periscopes as these can rotate 180 degrees.
During pelagic larval stage these fish are not flat but become so as they grow, their bodies flatten, and one eye migrates across the head next to the other eye. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Achirus-declivis.html

0 comments

Leave a comment

Known Sightings / Photograph Locations

Share this: