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Cape sole (Heteromycteris capensis) — Soleidae

Cape sole

Heteromycteris capensis
Family: Soleidae

The Cape sole (Heteromycteris capensis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Soleidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
1.0–? m
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Cape sole is a sole-like flatfish (Soleidae) from coastal and brackish water of southern Africa. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an oval, strongly flattened, brown-marbled body with both eyes on the right side. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms of estuaries and shallow coastal water and searches for small worms, crustaceans and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Cape sole?

The Cape sole has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Cape sole live?

The Cape sole lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Cape sole get?

The Cape sole grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Cape sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Cape sole is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Kaapse tong sourced
English name
Cape sole sourced
Scientific name
Heteromycteris capensis
Family
Soleidae
Other names
Cape sole; Sole verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Heteromycteris

More from the family Soleidae

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