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Japanese zebra sole (Pseudaesopia japonica) — Soleidae

Japanese zebra sole

Pseudaesopia japonica
Family: Soleidae

The Japanese zebra sole (Pseudaesopia japonica) is a fish of the family Soleidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Northwest Pacific
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Japanese zebra sole is a sole (Soleidae) from coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 15 cm and has an oval, strongly flattened body with both eyes on the right side and a striking pattern of dark crossbars, like a zebra. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms of shallow coastal water and hunts small worms and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Japanese zebra sole?

The Japanese zebra sole is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Zebra-like vertical bars; burrowing tonguefish with eyes on the right

Where does the Japanese zebra sole live?

The Japanese zebra sole is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Northwest Pacific

How big does the Japanese zebra sole get?

The Japanese zebra sole grows to a maximum of about 15 cm. On average the species is around 9 cm.

Is the Japanese zebra sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Japanese zebra 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 Japanese zebra sole edible?

The Japanese zebra sole is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Japanese zebra sole sourced
Scientific name
Pseudaesopia japonica
Family
Soleidae
Other names
Wavyband sole; Banded sole; Japanese sole; Seto sole; Wavybanded sole

Appearance

Size class
Small
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Average length (cm)
9.0 sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
Northwest Pacific sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small worms and crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Burrowing coastal tonguefish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Zebra-like vertical bars; burrowing tonguefish with eyes on the right sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
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

More from the family Soleidae

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