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Dark thick-rayed sole (Aesopia cornuta) — Soleidae

Dark thick-rayed sole

Aesopia cornuta
Family: Soleidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Dark thick-rayed sole (Aesopia cornuta) is a saltwater fish of the family Soleidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
8.0–100.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The unicorn sole is a flatfish (sole) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 25 cm and has an elongate, oval, strongly flattened body with conspicuous dark cross-bars and an extended front dorsal-fin ray that projects above the head like a little horn. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried in sand or mud by day to about 100 metres depth and hunts small benthic animals at night. It is a local food fish. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dark thick-rayed sole?

The Dark thick-rayed sole has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Elongated front dorsal fin ray forming a small horn; banded flatfish

Where does the Dark thick-rayed sole live?

The Dark thick-rayed sole lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Dark thick-rayed sole get?

The Dark thick-rayed sole grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Dark thick-rayed sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Dark thick-rayed sole is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Dark thick-rayed sole edible?

The Dark thick-rayed sole is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Dark thick-rayed sole verified
Scientific name
Aesopia cornuta
Family
Soleidae
Other names
Dark thick-rayed sole; Horned sole; Unicorn sole verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
25.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars inferred
Tail shape
Rounded sourced
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
8.0 verified
Max depth (m)
100.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small benthic invertebrates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Burrowing flatfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Elongated front dorsal fin ray forming a small horn; banded flatfish sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Soleidae

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