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Yellowtail sole (Trinectes xanthurus) — Achiridae

Yellowtail sole

Trinectes xanthurus
Family: Achiridae

The Yellowtail sole (Trinectes xanthurus) is a saltwater fish of the family Achiridae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The yellowtail sole is a small sole (Achiridae) from coastal and estuarine water of the western Atlantic, off South America. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a round-oval, strongly flattened, brown body with both eyes on the right side and a yellowish tail. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on soft sediment of shallow coastal and brackish water and eats small worms and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellowtail sole?

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

Where does the Yellowtail sole live?

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

How big does the Yellowtail sole get?

The Yellowtail sole grows to a maximum of about 9 cm. On average the species is around 5 cm.

Is the Yellowtail sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellowtail sole is harmless to humans.

Is the Yellowtail sole edible?

The Yellowtail sole is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Geelstaart-tong sourced
English name
Yellowtail sole sourced
Scientific name
Trinectes xanthurus
Family
Achiridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.5 verified
Average length (cm)
5.1 sourced
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Trinectes

More from the family Achiridae

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