Atlantic Sole

Last ray of dorsal and anal fins joined by a low membrane to the base of the caudal fin. Supratemporal branch of lateral line forming an arch. Anterior nostril on the blind side prominent forming a large round rosette, its diameter equal to that of the eye. Lower lip on ocular side undulated with about 6 lobes. Length of both nasal tubes and scales above it on the ocular side about equal. Pectoral fin on the ocular side with a black botch with a white margin except at its base; this blotch often interrupted by light space or accompanied by dots or streaks on one side or the other (present in fresh specimens from coast of Israel (Ref. 32649). Brownish yellow or reddish brown in color with obscure pale blotches and specks (Ref. 3200).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 69 - 87; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 53 - 73; Vertebrae: 40 - 48

Found on gravel, sand or mud. Feeds on a wide range of small marine bivalves; mainly on crustaceans such as amphipods, mysids, shrimps, decapods, bivalves and polychaetes (Ref. 4710).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: very high; price reliability: reliable: based on ex-vessel price for this species

The sand sole (Pegusa lascaris) is a fish species in the family Soleidae. It is a marine, subtropical, demersal fish up to 40 centimetres (16 in) long.

Widespread in the northeastern and southeastern Atlantic, to the Gulf of Guinea in the south, also in the Mediterranean Sea. Recorded in the Suez Canal. During a long time the soles from the Black Sea and Sea of Azov were erroneously identified as the Blackhand sole, which was considered as subspecies P. l. nasuta (now as a different species). The modern studies confirms the presence of the sand sole in this water basin.