| Lemon sole | |
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Pleuronectoidei |
| Family: | Pleuronectidae |
| Genus: | Microstomus |
| Species: | M. kitt |
| Binomial name | |
| Microstomus kitt (Walbaum, 1792) | |
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| Range of the lemon sole | |
| Synonyms | |
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Thelemon sole (Microstomus kitt) is aflatfish of the familyPleuronectidae. It is native to shallow seas aroundNorthern Europe, where it lives on stony bottoms down to depths of about 1,400 metres (4,600 ft). It grows up to 65 centimetres (26 in) in length and reaches about 3 kilograms (6.6 lb) in weight.[2][3]
It is a popularfood fish.
The lemon sole is a right-eyedflatfish with a small head and mouth and smooth, slimy skin. The upper surface is reddish brown in colour, mottled with pink and orange and flecks of yellow and green, and a prominent orange patch is typically found behind thepectoral fin, around which thelateral line also curves. The underside of the fish is white. Adults can reach lengths of up to 65 centimetres (26 in), but most measure around 20–30 centimetres (8–12 in).[2][3]
The fish is not atrue sole, nor does it have the taste of lemon. The English name probably comes from the French name:limande orsole limande.[citation needed] The French termlimande may come from the French wordlime, meaning "file" (a tool used to smooth metal, wood, etc.), possibly referring to the texture of the fish's skin. Some other authors suggest that "limande" may also come from the French wordlimon (which means "silt").[4]
In 2007 theEuropean Unionfishing quota, or Total Allowable Catch (TAC), for lemon sole (andwitch) was 6,175 tonnes, of which 3,716 tonnes were caught, mostly by UK fishermen. The quota for both 2008 and 2009 was 6,793 tonnes.[5][6]
TheMarine Conservation Society rates lemon sole at 3 or 4 on its sustainability scale (where 1 is best and 5 is worst) depending on how and where it is caught.[7][8]
Several other species of flatfish are known as lemon soles:
Authority control databases: National |
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