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Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes) >
Soleidae (Soles)
Etymology: Solea: Latin, solea = sandal (shoe); refered to the flat shape of the fish (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Captain Alexander Turbyne (d: 1905) was in charge of the South African Government Fisheries steamer which obtained ‘numerous specimens’ of the sole. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 1 - 60 m (Ref. 3200). Subtropical
Western Indian Ocean: South and East Africa, from about Cape Town, South Africa to Tanzania.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 17.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3200)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 61 - 71; Anal soft rays: 47 - 55. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: dorsal fin rays 61-71; anal fin rays 47-55 ; lateral line scales 88-116; caudal vertebrae 25-28; snout, rounded; scale width half its length, ctenii about one fourth of scale length; a small transparent membrane join base of dorsal and anal fins to base of caudal fin (Ref. 56201).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Usually found in estuaries. Juveniles are abundant on shallow sand banks (Ref. 3200).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Vachon, J., M. Desoutter and F. Chapleau, 2005. Solea bleekeri Boulenger, 1898, a junior synonym of Pegusa nasuta (Pallas, 1814), with the recognition and redescription of Solea turbynei Gilchrist, 1904 (Pleuronectiformes: Soleidae). Cybium 29(4):315-319. (Ref. 56201)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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