Scientific Name
Microstomus pacificus

Common Name
Dover sole

Biology
Occurs on mud bottom (Ref. 2850). Moves into deep water in winter (Ref. 2850). Produces large amounts of slime which may cover other fishes when caught in trawls (Ref. 4925). Marketed as mink food (Ref. 4925) or as fillet (Ref. 2850).

Classification

Classified By

Lockington, 1879

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes)

Family

Righteye flounders (Pleuronectidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: Navarin Canyon in the Bering Sea to Stalemate Bank in the Aleutian Islands and San Cristobal Bay, Baja California, Mexico.

Range

65°N - 31°N

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

1370 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 1370 m (Ref. 50610)

Trophic Level

3.27 s.e. 0.37 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

76.0 cm

Common Length

40.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5; tmax=53; K=0.26; Fec=37,000)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated