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Eyespot sole (Heteromycteris oculus) — Soleidae

Eyespot sole

Heteromycteris oculus
Family: Soleidae

The Eyespot sole (Heteromycteris oculus) is a saltwater fish of the family Soleidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Andaman Is.
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The eyespot sole is a small sole (Soleidae) from shallow coastal and estuarine water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a flattened, oval, brown-speckled body with both eyes on the right side and often an eyespot on the upper side. As a bottom-dweller it lies buried on sand and mud bottoms and snaps at small worms and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eyespot sole?

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

Where does the Eyespot sole live?

The Eyespot sole lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Andaman Is.

How big does the Eyespot sole get?

The Eyespot sole grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Eyespot sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Eyespot 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 Eyespot sole edible?

Yes, the Eyespot sole is commonly eaten.

More photos

Eyespot sole (Heteromycteris oculus) — Soleidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Sagarika Gupta, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Eyespot sole (Heteromycteris oculus) — Soleidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) theodetambel, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Eyespot sole (Heteromycteris oculus) — Soleidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) মোটু Purkait, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Eyespot sole sourced
Scientific name
Heteromycteris oculus
Family
Soleidae
Other names
Eyed sole verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Asia: Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Andaman Is. sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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

Same genus Heteromycteris

More from the family Soleidae

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