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Lost sole (Achirus declivis) — Achiridae

Lost sole

Achirus declivis
Family: Achiridae

The Lost sole (Achirus declivis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Achiridae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
18.7 cm
Water
Brackish
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The lost sole is a small sole-like flatfish (Achiridae) from coastal and brackish water of the western Atlantic, off Central and South America. The species grows to about 19 cm and has an oval, strongly flattened, brown body with fine dark markings and both eyes on the right side. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms of estuaries and coastal water and searches for small worms and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Lost sole?

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

Where does the Lost sole live?

The Lost sole lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Lost sole get?

The Lost sole grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Lost sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Lost sole is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Hellingzool sourced
English name
Lost sole sourced
Scientific name
Achirus declivis
Family
Achiridae
Other names
Plainfin sole verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
18.7 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

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 Achirus

More from the family Achiridae

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