Egyptian sole facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Egyptian sole
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Pleuronectiformes
Family:	Soleidae
Genus:	Solea
Species:	S. aegyptiaca
Binomial name
Solea aegyptiaca Chabanaud, 1927
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The Egyptian sole (Solea aegyptiaca) is a type of flatfish. It belongs to the true sole family, called Soleidae. This fish lives on the sandy or muddy bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. It is now also starting to live in the Red Sea.

Egyptian soles often bury themselves partly in the sand or mud. Their top side is usually brownish-grey. Their underside is white. These fish can grow up to about 70 cm (28 in) long. People eat Egyptian soles, and they are a popular food fish. Fishermen usually catch them using special nets called trawls that drag along the seabed.

About the Egyptian Sole

Scientists used to think the Egyptian sole was the same as the common sole (Solea solea). But newer studies have shown that it is its own unique species. These studies looked closely at the fish's DNA and its body features. They found clear differences that prove the Egyptian sole is separate.

The Egyptian sole often lives in the same areas as the common sole. Some people even thought it was just a different type, or subspecies, of the common sole. However, the Egyptian sole is actually more closely related to the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis). This fish lives in the eastern Mediterranean. In places where the Egyptian sole and Senegalese sole meet, they can even have baby fish together. This shows how closely related they are.

What Does It Look Like?

The Egyptian sole is a flatfish with an oval body shape. Its right side, which has the eyes, is brownish-grey. The fin on its eyed side often has a large black spot. Its left side, which doesn't have eyes, is white.

It looks a lot like the common sole. But there are small differences in their bodies. For example, the Egyptian sole has fewer bones in its spine. It also has fewer rays in its fins compared to the common sole. The black spot on its eyed-side fin is also bigger than the one on the common sole. The Egyptian sole is usually a bit smaller than the common sole. It can grow up to 65 cm long, but it's usually about 25 cm.

Where It Lives and What It Likes

The Egyptian sole lives on the bottom of the sea. It prefers soft mud and sand. You can find it in coastal waters and shallow areas. It also lives in lagoons where the water is a bit salty. It can live in waters up to 100 meters deep.

This fish is found in the Mediterranean Sea. Its range goes as far west as the Gulf of Gabes and north to the Gulf of Lion. It also lives in the southern Adriatic Sea. Recently, it has been seen in the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea. This means it has moved from the Mediterranean into the Red Sea.

How It Lives and Grows

The Egyptian sole eats small animals that live on the seabed. These include tiny Cnidaria (like jellyfish relatives), polychaete worms, and bivalves (like clams). It grows fairly quickly and usually lives for about four years.

Female Egyptian soles are generally larger than males. They become ready to have babies when they are about 15 cm long. In Egyptian waters, they lay eggs between January and June. A single female can produce up to 38,000 eggs! The biggest females lay the most eggs. The Egyptian sole can sometimes have a tiny trematode parasite called Allopodocotyle tunisiensis.

Fishing for Egyptian Sole

The Egyptian sole is an important fish for people who fish in the Mediterranean waters near Egypt. They are caught using nets that drag along the bottom of the sea.

Scientists have looked at how much Egyptian sole is being caught. They suggest that fishing should stop during the spawning season, which is from January to June. This would give the fish a chance to reproduce. They also suggest that only fish larger than 18 cm should be caught. This way, all fish have a chance to lay eggs at least once. People in Egypt have also started raising Egyptian soles in special farms, which is called aquaculture.