Scientific Name
Microstomus kitt

Common Name
Lemon sole

Biology
Lives most often on stony bottoms. Feeds on a variety of small invertebrates, but polychaetes seem to dominate. Apparently they do not feed in wintertime (Ref. 9900). Marketed fresh and frozen; eaten steamed, fried, broiled, microwaved and baked (Ref. 9988).

Classification

Classified By

Walbaum, 1792

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes)

Family

Righteye flounders (Pleuronectidae)

Distribution

Region

Northeast Atlantic

Distribution

Northeast Atlantic: Bay of Biscay to the White Sea and off Iceland.

Range

72°N - 43°N, 26°W - 45°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

10 m

Depth To - meters

200 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 10 - 200 m, usually 10 - 150 m (Ref. 35388)

Trophic Level

3.25 s.e. 0.44 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

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

65.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown 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; aquarium: public aquariums

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (57 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=3-6; tmax=23)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated