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Carpet sole (Liachirus melanospilos) — Soleidae

Carpet sole

Liachirus melanospilos
Family: Soleidae
LC · Least Concern

The Carpet sole (Liachirus melanospilos) is a saltwater fish of the family Soleidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The carpet sole is a sole (Soleidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. As a flatfish it lies on its side on the bottom, with both eyes on the upward-facing flank; its upper side is brown with dark spots for camouflage. It lives on sand slopes and in estuaries of coastal waters. As a bottom hunter it feeds on small bottom invertebrates such as worms and crustaceans. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Carpet sole?

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

Where does the Carpet sole live?

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

How big does the Carpet sole get?

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

Is the Carpet sole dangerous to humans?

No, the Carpet sole is harmless to humans.

Is the Carpet sole edible?

The Carpet sole is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwartvlek-tongschar sourced
English name
Carpet sole verified
Scientific name
Liachirus melanospilos
Family
Soleidae
Other names
Darkspotted sole; Dark-spotted sole; Sole verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy 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)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 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
Rarely 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

More from the family Soleidae

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