Small-head sole (Soleichthys microcephalus)

Scientific name: Soleichthys microcephalus G?nther, 1862

Small-head sole (Soleichthys microcephalus)

The Small-head sole (Soleichthys microcephalus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Soleidae. Native range: Southwest Pacific, warm-temperate New South Wales, Australia.

Biology

Dorsal soft rays (total): 71-84; Anal soft rays: 61 - 71; Vertebrae: 43 - 45. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: vertebrae 43-45; dorsal-fin rays 71-84; anal-fin rays 61-71; lateral-line scales 81-89; ocular-side pigmentation pattern consists of 8-10 dark-brown to black, mostly complete crossbands on the body, with these bands noticeably wider than the alternating lighter-colored crossbands; 3 dark brown crossbands continuous across head; 2 conspicuous white spots in longitudinal series on the ocular-side midline; 2 elongated ocular-side pectoral-fin rays of nearly equal length or with the second fin ray longer than first; small scales on bases and proximal halves of elongated ocular-side pectoral-fin rays.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Soleichthys microcephalus
Family
Soleidae (Soles)
Order
Pleuronectiformes (Flatfishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
22.0
Depth range
3–43 m (10–141 ft)
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 3 - 43 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: warm-temperate New South Wales, Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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