Head to head
Common Dab vs European Plaice
Common Dab
VS European Plaice
The common dab and the European plaice are two right-eyed flatfish that share the sandy bottoms of the North Sea and are often caught together.
| Common Dab | European Plaice | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Limanda limanda | Pleuronectes platessa |
| Relationship | A fellow right-eyed flatfish | A fellow right-eyed flatfish |
| Skin | Rough-edged scales on the upper side, like sandpaper when stroked from tail to head | A smooth, brown upper side |
| Markings | Sandy brown, with faint darker and orange-brown flecks and a strongly arched lateral line over the pectoral fin | Marked with bright orange to red spots, and a row of small bony bumps behind the eyes |
| Size | Usually 15 to 25 cm long, smaller than a plaice | A larger, heavier flatfish than the dab |
| Diet | Worms, small crustaceans, brittle stars, and small fish | Cockles, razor clams, other bivalves, and worms, crushed with plate-like teeth in its throat |
| Life cycle | Common in shallow sandy bays and abundant in the North Sea | Spawns in winter in the southern North Sea and the English Channel, and the young grow up in shallow nursery areas on sandy beaches |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, widespread and abundant | Least Concern, with North Sea stocks recovering under management |
Common Dab vs European Plaice: common questions
How can you tell a dab from a plaice?
The dab is smaller, with rough scales and a strongly arched lateral line, while the plaice has smooth skin and bright orange-red spots.
Which one eats shellfish?
The plaice, which crushes cockles, razor clams, and other bivalves with plate-like teeth in its throat.
Are both right-eyed?
Yes, both lie on their left side with both eyes on the upper, right side of the head.