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Fringed sole (Gymnachirus texae) — Achiridae

Fringed sole

Gymnachirus texae
Family: Achiridae
LC · Least Concern

The Fringed sole (Gymnachirus texae) is a saltwater fish of the family Achiridae that grows up to 14 cm.

Length
14 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–187.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Gulf of Mexico fringed sole is a small flatfish of the family Achiridae (American soles) from the Gulf of Mexico. The species has an oval, scaleless body with both eyes on the right side and a pattern of narrow dark cross-bands, and reaches about 14 cm. It lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms of the continental shelf and feeds on small bottom invertebrates. The striped pattern provides camouflage. The species is of modest commercial importance and is regularly eaten.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Fringed sole?

The Fringed sole has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Fringed sole live?

The Fringed sole lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Fringed sole get?

The Fringed sole grows to a maximum of about 14 cm.

Is the Fringed sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Fringed sole is harmless to humans.

Is the Fringed sole edible?

Yes, the Fringed sole is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Golf-franjetong sourced
English name
Fringed sole verified
Scientific name
Gymnachirus texae
Family
Achiridae
Other names
Gulf of Mexico fringed sole verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
187.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Gymnachirus

More from the family Achiridae

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