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Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > fishes > Order Pleuronectiformes > Family Soleidae
Oriental sole
Brachirus orientalis
Family Soleidae
updated Oct 2020

Where seen? This large flattened fish is sometimes seen on some of our shore.

Features:
Usually 10-12cm, it can grow to 30cm. Eyes on the right side with a small curved mouth. Body oval, it has a tiny pectoral fin on the eyed-side. Dorsal and anal fins joined with the tail fin and uniformly dark. The eyed-side is greyish brown with dark patches.
Scales are rough.

Sometimes confused with other flatfishes. The Large-toothed flounder (Family Paralichthyidae) looks very similar but it is left-eyed. Here's more on how to tell apart the flatfish families commonly seen.

Kusu Island, Jul 20
Photo shared by Dayna Cheah on facebook.

East Coast Park, Jun 09

Underside: Tail fin joined to the dorsal and anal fins.

Eyes on the right side with small curved mouth.

Often seen trapped in fishing nets.
Changi, Jul 11

What does it eat? Lying buried in the sand, it preys on bottom dwelling animals especially crustaceans.

Human uses: It is eaten in some places and marketed fresh, frozen or dried salted.

Oriental soles on Singapore shores
On wildsingapore flickr

Other sightings on Singapore shores


Chek Jawa, Jan 10
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on flickr.



Beting Bronok, Jun 24
Photo shared by Kelvin Yong on facebook.

 

East Coast Park, Nov 21
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.


Kusu Island, Jul 09
Photo shared by James Koh on his blog.

 

Terumbu Hantu, Jul 18
Photo shared by Jianlin Liu on facebook.


Terumbu Raya, Mar 09
Photo shared by Loh Kok Sheng on his flickr.

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