Home · Soleidae · Senegalese sole
Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) — Soleidae

Senegalese sole

Solea senegalensis
Family: Soleidae

The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Soleidae that grows up to 60 cm.

Length
60 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
12.0–100.0 m
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Senegalese sole is a sole (Soleidae) from coastal and estuarine water of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. The species grows to about 60 cm and has a flattened, elongate-oval body with both eyes on the right side; the upper side is brown and matches the bottom, the underside is white. As a nocturnal bottom-dweller it lies buried by day on sand and mud bottoms and searches by night for worms, small crustaceans and molluscs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Senegalese sole?

The Senegalese sole has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Senegalese sole live?

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

How big does the Senegalese sole get?

The Senegalese sole grows to a maximum of about 60 cm. On average the species is around 45 cm.

Is the Senegalese sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Senegalese sole is harmless to humans.

Is the Senegalese sole edible?

Yes, the Senegalese sole is commonly eaten.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Senegalese tong sourced
English name
Senegalese sole sourced
Scientific name
Solea senegalensis
Family
Soleidae
Other names
Senegalese sole verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
60.0 verified
Average length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
12.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Solea

More from the family Soleidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →