Microstomus pacificus (Lockington, 1879)
Dover sole
Microstomus pacificus
photo by Gotshall, D.W.

Family:  Pleuronectidae (Righteye flounders), subfamily: Microstominae
Max. size:  76 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 3,500.0 g; max. reported age: 56 years
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 1370 m
Distribution:  Eastern Pacific: Navarin Canyon in the Bering Sea to Stalemate Bank in the Aleutian Islands and San Cristobal Bay, Baja California, Mexico.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 90-116; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 80-96; Vertebrae: 50-54. Dorsal origin above middle of upper eye. Caudal imperfectly rounded.
Biology:  Adults occur on mud bottom (Ref. 2850). They move into deep water in winter (Ref. 2850). Produce large amounts of slime which may cover other fishes when caught in trawls (Ref. 4925). Marketed as mink food (Ref. 4925) or as fillet (Ref. 2850).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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