#pleuronectodae

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Spinning flatfish in these troubled times

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Shellfies with a handsome rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata) and a red rock crab (Cancer productus)

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An english sole (Parophrys vetulus)

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Rock Sole Identification

Have you ever see a flatfish and wondered “Huh, is that a rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata)?” Well, you’ve come to the right place! Here are two simple tips to answering the age-old question: rock sole or not rock sole?

Tip 1: L. bilineata is a unique species in that they do not bury themselves. Rather, they lay atop the sea floor. If you see a wild flatfish not in the water column or not as a pair of lil eyes sticking out of the substrate, there’s a good chance it’s a rock sole!

Tip 2: Now, Tip 1 alone is not enough. Even if the rock sole does not instinctually bury itself as a predation and defense mechanism, all flatfish may crawl on the substrate for short-range locomotion. Because of the chromatophores possessed by the pleuronectodae family, color cannot be relied upon, either. So what can you use to identify a rock sole? Well, gaze into their special eyes! Most flatfish in the north Pacific feature oblong pupils, but the rock sole has a bean shaped pupil! Illustrations below.

(standard flatfish pupil)

(rock sole pupil)

If you are lucky enough to get close to a rock sole, this simple feature will allow you to answer said age-old question. Cheers!

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Speckled sanddab (Citharichthyes stigmaeus)

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Rock soles (Lepidopsetta bilineata)

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Platichthyes stellatus

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A juvenile Platichthys stellatus that showed up in our light trap, overnight! Literally flatfish Friday!