Curlfin sole (Pleuronichthys decurrens)

Physical description

This sole is a right-eyed flatfish with a deep oval-shaped body. The eyed side is yellowish or reddish brown to dark brown or black, usually with brown or grey mottling. The blind side is white. The first 9-12 rays of the dorsal fin originate on the blind side of the fish level with the lower corner of the mouth. All fins are dark in color and the dorsal and anal fins are tall. The caudal fin is rounded. The lateral line has a slight curve over the pectoral fin with a long accessory dorsal branch that reaches to the midpoint of the body. The Curlfin sole has large, closely set eyes; a high bony ridge runs between them with a tubercle or blunt spine at each end. There are 2-3 additional bony tubercles on the head behind the upper eye. The species has a small mouth and there is an anal spine present.

Curlfin sole are similar to Spotted and Hornyhead turbots, which have 4 to 6 dorsal fin rays originating on the blind side.

Curlfin sole can grow up to 37 cm (15 in) in length, and 0.78 kg (1.71 lbs) in weight.

Geographic range

Curlfin sole are found from the Bering Sea in the north to San Quintín Bay, Baja California in the south.  It is a demersal fish that lives on soft bottoms at depths of between 8 and 530 m (26-1,740 ft).  They are most commonly found above 91 m (300 ft).