Wedge sole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wedge sole |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Pleuronectiformes |
| Family: | Soleidae |
| Genus: | Dicologlossa |
| Species: |
D. cuneata
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| Binomial name | |
| Dicologlossa cuneata (É. Moreau, 1881)
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| Synonyms | |
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The wedge sole (Dicologlossa cuneata) is a type of flatfish that lives on the bottom of the ocean. It's part of the Soleidae family, which includes other soles. This fish is a hunter that lives in sandy or muddy areas. You can find them in the East Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, usually between 10 and 450 meters (about 33 to 1,476 feet) deep. They can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long.
Contents
What Does a Wedge Sole Look Like?
Wedge soles are a kind of flatfish that can grow up to 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) long. They have special features that help tell them apart from other types of soles, especially younger ones.
Their body is longer than most other soles. Their scales also come off more easily than those of the common sole. The top side of the fish is a chocolate brown color. It often has cool bluish marks. On this brown side, the pectoral fin (the fin near its head) has a black spot. This spot does not go all the way to the end of the fin, which is different from other soles. This fin also has a clear triangular shape.
The wedge sole's snout (nose area) is a bit angled and covers a small part of its lower jaw. Another cool feature is its lateral line. This line helps fish sense things in the water. For the wedge sole, it has between 105 and 132 special scales. The common sole has more, between 116 and 163. Also, the wedge sole's lateral line has a clear curve near its head. In the common sole, this curve is much gentler.
There are also other hidden differences. These include where its eye moves as it grows. The shape of a bone called the urohyal is also different. Plus, wedge soles have 43 to 45 vertebrae (backbones). Common soles have more, usually 49 to 52.
Where Do Wedge Soles Live?
The wedge sole lives in the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean. You can find them from the Bay of Biscay down to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. This area includes the Canary Islands and the Cape Verde Islands. They also live in the western Mediterranean Sea. Here, they are found along the coast of Spain, near Málaga, and along the coasts of Morocco and Algeria. Some have even been seen as far as Syria in 2014.
Scientists have noticed that the number of wedge soles is growing in the northern parts of their range. This might be happening because the ocean waters are getting warmer due to climate change.
Wedge Sole Homes and Habits
Wedge soles like to live on sandy or sand-mud bottoms. They are usually found at depths of 15 to 40 meters (about 49 to 131 feet). However, they have been found deeper, like 115 meters (377 feet) in the Gulf of Cadiz. Some have even been spotted at 400 meters (1,312 feet) off the coast of Mauritania.
These fish are predators. They hunt and eat small creatures that live on the seafloor. Their favorite foods include crustaceans (like crabs and shrimp), polychaetes (a type of worm), and bivalves (like clams).
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Wedge soles have a long breeding season. It starts in the autumn and continues through the winter until early summer. The eggs float freely in the water and do not stick to anything. The exact timing of breeding can change depending on where the fish live. For example, in the Bay of Biscay, it's from May to September. In the Mediterranean, it's in late autumn and winter. Female wedge soles are ready to lay eggs when they are about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. Males are ready when they reach about 15 centimeters (6 inches).
Fishing and Eating Wedge Soles
In Europe, there's a rule that wedge soles must be at least 17 centimeters (about 7 inches) long to be caught. Fishermen usually catch more of them during the colder months of the year.
The meat of the wedge sole is white and has a delicate taste. It's also low in fat. The bones are not hard to remove when you eat it, which makes it a good choice for many people.
In France, the wedge sole is a special dish in the fishing ports of Cotinière, on the île d'Oléron, and Royan, in Charente-Maritime.
Wedge soles are very popular to eat in Andalusia, a region in southern Spain. There, they are usually fried. Fishermen often catch them in the southern Atlantic Ocean because these fish prefer warmer, subtropical waters. However, they are also found in the Mediterranean Sea. The area around the mouth of the Guadalquivir river in southern Spain is an important home for these fish. The main Spanish port where wedge soles are brought in is Sanlúcar de Barrameda. About 976 tonnes of wedge soles are caught each year.
 | Sharif Bey |
 | Hale Woodruff |
 | Richmond Barthé |
 | Purvis Young |
