Animal Species:Unidentified larval sole, Aseraggodes sp

All adult flatfishes go through a larval phase. For at least part of this phase, the developing flatfish looks more like a "normal" fish. It swims in open water with its back uppermost and has eyes on either side of the head. The top image is a 4.0mm larval sole with its fins starting to develop, and one eye on either side of the head.

4 mm larval sole Aseraggodes sp.

4 mm larval sole Aseraggodes sp.
© Australian Museum

Identification

Adult flatfishes (soles, flounders, etc) are bottom-living fishes which are easily recognised by their laterally flattened bodies with both eyes on the one side of the head.

The lower image shows a 11.6 mm larval sole. By this size the sole has started to look more like an adult flatfish. The fins have developed, and the left eye has moved over the snout onto the right side of the head.

Life cycle

All adult flatfishes go through a larval phase. For at least part of this phase, the developing flatfish looks more like a "normal" fish. It swims in open water with its back uppermost and has eyes on either side of the head. The top image is a 4.0mm larval sole with its fins starting to develop, and one eye on either side of the head.

Classification

Genus:
Aseraggodes
Family:
Soleidae
Order:
Pleuronectiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Leis, J.M. and T. Trnski. 1989. The larvae of Indo-Pacific shorefishes. New South Wales University Press, Sydney and University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. 371pp, 83 plates.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Soleidae, Unidentified larval sole, Aseraggodes,