Solenette

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Solenette
Buglossidium luteum.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Pleuronectiformes
Family: Soleidae
Genus: Buglossidium
Chabanaud, 1930
Species:
B. luteum'
Binomial name
Buglossidium luteum'
(A. Risso, 1810)
Buglossidium luteum rangemap.png
Range of the solenette
Synonyms
  • Pleuronectes luteus Risso, 1810
  • Monochirus luteus(Risso, 1810)
  • Rhombus luteus(Risso, 1810)
  • Solea lutea(Risso, 1810)

The solenette or yellow sole, Buglossidium luteum, is a species of flatfish in the family Soleidae, and the only member of its genus. It is characterized by its small size, low-slung semi-circular mouth, and regularly placed dark fin rays. A common and widespread species, it is native to sandy bottoms in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It is of little commercial value. [2] [3]

Contents

Distribution and habitat

The solenette occurs in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean from Iceland and Scotland southward, as well as in the North Sea, Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. It also occurs in the Mediterranean Sea, including the Adriatic Sea, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus. It has been reported from a range of 5–450 m (16–1,476 ft), but is rare in very shallow waters. [4] The highest abundances occur at depths of 5–15 m (16–49 ft) in the English Channel and at 20–35 m (66–115 ft) in the Bay of Biscay. Their distribution is not restricted by sediment type as in some other flatfish species. [5] In the Solway Firth, there is a general movement offshore in the winter. [6]

This species has more specific habitat requirements than other widespread Atlantic flatfish such as the European plaice, common sole, and common dab. It is concentrated in waters moderately influenced by estuary outflows, at a salinity of 29-33 ppt, and is absent from the mouths of the largest estuaries where the salinity is lower. The solenette is often found on or half-buried in muddy or muddy-sandy substrates. [5]

Description

The smallest of the soles in European waters, the solenette usually measures 10–13 cm (3.9–5.1 in) long and attains a maximum length of 15 cm (5.9 in). [2] [5] It has an oval, compressed, slightly elongate body with both eyes on the right side of the head. The snout is rounded with the upper jaw slightly elongated to form a "beak". The diameter of the upper eye is less than the distance between it and the front of the head. The dorsal fin begins on the anterior profile of the head, with 65-78 fin rays. The anal fin contains 49-63 fin rays, and the caudal fin is connected to the dorsal and anal fins by a small membrane. The pectoral fin on the eyed side is small, with 3-5 fin rays, and the one on the blind side is reduced to 1 long and 1-2 short fin rays. [4] [7]

The lateral line scales number 55-70, and are rectangular in shape with short, strongly curved intercanalicular striae. The coloration of the eyed side is variable, frequently yellowish or light brown with or without darker blotches or spots. The dorsal and anal fins are sandy with every 5th or 6th (occasionally 4th or 7th) fin ray dark for the majority of their lengths. [7] The solenette can change its color to better match its background. [3]

Biology and ecology

Adult solenette feed on a variety of small benthic organisms, mainly crustaceans (copepods, amphipods, and cumaceans), bivalve molluscs, and polychaete worms. [4] The diet of the solenette varies by geographical region; solenette from the English Channel feed on a larger variety of prey than those from the Bay of Biscay, and take proportionally more polychaetes as opposed to crustaceans and molluscs for the Bay of Biscay. [5] Feeding activity peaks in summer and declines markedly in winter. [6]

The solenette spawns in February in the Mediterranean, from March to June in the Bay of Biscay, and in July and August in the western English Channel, North Sea, and western Ireland. [4] The eggs are small and distinguishable from those of other soles by having only a few large oil globules. The larvae hatch at about 2 mm long, with metamorphosis beginning at about 7 mm long and being complete at 8–9 mm. In appearance the larvae are similar to those of the common sole, but with fewer large stellate chromatophores. There is also a distinct patch of pigment on the ventral abdominal wall, and the distinct shape of the head is also apparent in the early stages. [8]

In the North Sea, there are no special nursery areas, with juveniles and adults occurring in the same areas. [9] The young take up a benthic lifestyle at 12 mm long. [7] Most growth occurs in the first year of life and continues at a relatively low and constant rate afterwards. Both sexes mature in their third year, with males growing faster than females and females attaining a larger ultimate size. [6] The maximum reported age is 13 years. [2]

Relationship to humans

The solenette is too small to be of commercial interest and is usually discarded by fishers. It is caught as bycatch in trawls, sometimes in large numbers, and historically has often been confused with the young of the common sole. [10] [11] [12] Between 1985 and 2006, the range of the solenette increased significantly in the North Sea, which is believed to be a consequence of rising sea bottom temperatures. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flatfish</span> Order of fishes

A flatfish is a member of the ray-finned demersal fish order Pleuronectiformes, also called the Heterosomata, sometimes classified as a suborder of Perciformes. In many species, both eyes lie on one side of the head, one or the other migrating through or around the head during development. Some species face their left sides upward, some face their right sides upward, and others face either side upward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soleidae</span> Family of fishes

The true soles are a family, Soleidae, of flatfishes. It includes saltwater and brackish water species in the East Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and West and Central Pacific Ocean. Freshwater species are found in Africa, southern Asia, New Guinea, and Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European plaice</span> Species of fish

The European plaice, commonly referred to as simply plaice, is a species of marine flatfish in the genus Pleuronectes of the family Pleuronectidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common ling</span> Species of fish

The common ling, also known as the white ling or simply the ling, is a large member of the family Lotidae, a group of cod-like fishes. It resembles the related rocklings, but it is much larger and has a single barbel. This species is unrelated to the pink ling, Genypterus blacodes, from the Southern Hemisphere. The common ling is found in the northern Atlantic, mainly off Europe, and into the Mediterranean Basin. It is an important quarry species for fisheries, especially in the northeastern Atlantic, although some doubts exist as to the sustainability of the fisheries. As an edible species, it is eaten fresh, frozen, or dried, but also preserved in lye, while the roe is a delicacy in Spain.

<i>Argyrosomus regius</i> Species of fish

Argyrosomus regius, also known as the meagre, croaker, jewfish, shade-fish, sowa, kir, corvina, salmon-bass or stone bass, is a species of fish of the family Sciaenidae. This large fish has a pearly-silver to brownish coloration and a yellow-coloured mouth. It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Mediterranean and Black Seas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Witch (righteye flounder)</span> Species of fish

The witch, known in English by a variety of other common names including the witch flounder, pole flounder, craig fluke, Torbay sole, and grey sole, is a species of flatfish from the family Pleuronectidae. It occurs on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean on muddy sea beds in quite deep water. In northern Europe it has some importance in fisheries as a food fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornback ray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

The thornback ray, or thornback skate, is a species of ray fish in the family Rajidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big-scale sand smelt</span> Species of fish

The big-scale sand smelt is a species of fish in the family Atherinidae. It is a euryhaline amphidromous fish, up to 20 cm in length.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European flounder</span> Species of fish

The European flounder is a flatfish of European coastal waters from the White Sea in the north to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea in the south. It has been introduced into the United States and Canada accidentally through transport in ballast water. It is caught and used for human consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater amberjack</span> Species of fish

The greater amberjack, also known as the allied kingfish, great amberfish, greater yellowtail, jenny lind, Sea donkey, purplish amberjack, reef donkey, rock salmon, sailors choice, yellowtail, and yellow trevally, is a species of predatory ray-finned fish in the family Carangidae, the jacks and pompanos. It is found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical seas around the world. It is a popular quarry species for recreational fisheries and is important in commercial fisheries. It is the largest species in the family Carangidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey gurnard</span> Species of fish

The grey gurnard is a species of ray-finned fish from the family Triglidae, the gurnards and sea robins. It is native to the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Black Sea. It is caught as a food fish and is known for producing sounds. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Eutrigla.

<i>Trachinotus ovatus</i> Species of fish

Trachinotus ovatus, the pompano which is also known as the derbio or silverfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Carangidae, the jacks. It has large, strong fins. It is common in the Mediterranean Sea, and in the Atlantic Ocean from the British Isles and Scandinavia, where it is a vagrant, to the Gulf of Guinea and Angola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mediterranean scaldfish</span> Species of fish

The Mediterranean scaldfish, also known as the scaldfish, is a species of benthic left eyed flatfish belonging to the family Bothidae. It is found in the eastern Atlantic of Europe and Africa as well as the Mediterranean, and is of minor interest to fisheries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedge sole</span> Species of fish

The wedge sole, is a flatfish of the family Soleidae. It is a bottom dwelling predatory fish inhabiting both sandy and muddy soils at depths between 10 and 450 m in the East Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. It achieves a maximum size of 30 cm (12 in).

<i>Zebrias</i> Genus of fishes

Zebrias is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Soleidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptian sole</span> Species of fish

The Egyptian sole is a species of flatfish in the true sole family, Soleidae. It lives on the sandy or muddy seabed of the Mediterranean Sea, and is now colonising the Red Sea. It often semi-immerses itself in the substrate. The upper side is greyish-brown while the underside is white. It grows to a maximum length of about 70 cm (28 in). This fish is used for human consumption and is prized as a food fish. It is caught mostly by trawling on the seabed.

<i>Dibranchus atlanticus</i> Species of fish

The Atlantic batfish is a species of fish in the family Ogcocephalidae. It is found in deep water in the Atlantic Ocean where it lives on the seabed, feeding on small invertebrates.

<i>Solea senegalensis</i> Species of fish

Solea senegalensis, the Senegalese sole, is a species of flatfish from the family of the true soles, the Soleidae, from the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thickback sole</span> Species of fish

The thickback sole, also known as the bastard sole and lucky sole, is a species of flatfish from the family of true soles, the Soleidae. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, it is a quarry for fisheries in the Mediterranean.

Microchirus azevia, commonly known as the bastard sole, is a species of flatfish in the family Soleidae. It is found on the continental slope of the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea at depths down to about 250 m (800 ft).

References

  1. ↑ Munroe, T.A. (2022). "Buglossidium luteum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022: e.T155044A15532533. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T155044A15532533.en . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2008). "Buglossidium luteum" in FishBase . December 2008 version.
  3. 1 2 Ruiz, A. (2007). Buglossidium luteum. Solenette. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. Retrieved on December 2, 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Quéro, J.-C., Desoutter, M. and Lagardère, F. (1986). "Soleidae". In Whitehead, P.J.P; et al. (eds.). Fishes of the North-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. ISBN   978-92-3-002309-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 3 4 Amara, R., Mahé, K., LePape, O. and Desroy, N. (2004). "Growth, feeding and distribution of the solenette Buglossidium luteum with particular reference to its habitat preference". Journal of Sea Research. 51 (3–4): 211–217. doi:10.1016/j.seares.2003.08.002.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 3 Nottage, A.S.; Perkins, E. J. (1983). "The biology of solenette, Buglossidium luteum (Risso), in the Solway Firth". Journal of Fish Biology. 22 (1): 21–27. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1983.tb04722.x.
  7. 1 2 3 Lythgoe, J and G (1991). Fishes of the Sea: The North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. ISBN   978-0-262-12162-0.
  8. ↑ Nichols, J.H. (1976). "Soleidae of the Eastern North Atlantic". In Fraser, J.H. (ed.). Fiches D'Identification du Zooplancton. Conseil International pour 1’Exploration de la Mer.
  9. ↑ Baltus, C.A.M. & Van der Veer, H.W. (November 1995). "Nursery areas of solenette Buglossidium luteum (Risso, 1810) and scaldfish Arnoglossus laterna (Walbaum, 1792) in the southern North Sea". Netherlands Journal of Sea Research. 34 (1–3): 81–87. doi:10.1016/0077-7579(95)90016-0.
  10. ↑ Newman, E. & Harting, J.E. (1907). Zoologist: A Monthly Journal of Natural History. J. Van Voorst.
  11. ↑ Herdman, W.A. & Dawson, R.A. (1902). Fishes and Fisheries of the Irish Sea, and Especially of the Lancashire and Western Sea-fisheries District. George Philip & Son.
  12. ↑ Murie, J. (1903). Report on the Sea Fisheries and Fishing Industries on the Thames Estuary. Waterlow Bros. & Layton.
  13. ↑ Hiddink, J.G. & ter Hofstede, R. (2008). "Climate induced increases in species richness of marine fishes". Global Change Biology. 14 (3): 453–460. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2486.2007.01518.x.
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