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Frechkop's sole (Microchirus frechkopi) — Soleidae

Frechkop's sole

Microchirus frechkopi
Family: Soleidae
LC · Least Concern

The Frechkop's sole (Microchirus frechkopi) is a saltwater fish of the family Soleidae that grows up to 20 cm.

Length
20 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
85.0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flatfish
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

Frechkop's sole is a small sole of the family Soleidae (true soles) reaching about 20 cm. The elongate-oval body has a rounded snout and both eyes on the right side; the small mouth is inferior. The brown upper side bears regular dark cross-bands, good camouflage on the bottom. The species lives on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf along the West African coast, often half-buried. On the bottom it searches, mainly at night, for worms, small crustaceans and molluscs. Because of its small size it has little commercial value and is mostly landed as bycatch.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Frechkop's sole?

The Frechkop's sole has a flatfish-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Frechkop's sole live?

The Frechkop's sole lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Frechkop's sole get?

The Frechkop's sole grows to a maximum of about 20 cm.

Is the Frechkop's sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Frechkop's sole is harmless to humans.

Is the Frechkop's sole edible?

The Frechkop's sole is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Frechkops tongetje inferred
English name
Frechkop's sole verified
Scientific name
Microchirus frechkopi
Family
Soleidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
20.0 verified
Body shape
Flatfish verified
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater verified
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom verified
Min depth (m)
85.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten verified
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. 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 Microchirus

More from the family Soleidae

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