Fish
Common Sole
Solea solea · also called Dover sole
By day a common sole lies buried in the sand of a quiet bay, with only its eyes showing, and at night it glides out to feel for worms with the tasting papillae on its underside.
Overview
The common sole, Solea solea, is a Least Concern flatfish of sandy and muddy bottoms from Norway to Senegal and the Mediterranean. Its night hunting, estuary nurseries, and exceptional flavour make it one of the most valuable fish in European fisheries.
A fish famous on the plate
Dover sole has been a symbol of fine fish cooking for centuries, and its value has made it the target of intensive fishing, with catches now controlled by quotas.
Status
Least Concern, though some stocks are under pressure.
Common Sole: common questions
Why is it called a Dover sole?
The name is traditional, as the sole was long landed at the English Channel port of Dover, and it is now used for the species wherever it is sold.
How does the common sole find food?
It finds food at night by smell and touch, using sensitive papillae on the underside of its twisted head to detect buried prey.
Where do young sole grow up?
They grow up in sheltered estuaries and shallow bays, where they are protected from large predators.
Where is the common sole found?
It lives on sandy and muddy bottoms of the north-eastern Atlantic, from Norway to Senegal, and in the Mediterranean.