Differences Between Sole And Turbot
Sole and turbot are the two best-known representatives of the flatfish family, and are quite often confused. Although they are related and look alike at first glance, there are some differences between sole and turbot that allow us to distinguish them.
Below, we summarize the main differences between sole and turbot, fish often confused with each other but always very popular.
Some general information on sole
The soleidae family includes several types of flat-bodied fish which are commonly called sole without distinction. In fact, it is an extended family, with more than 120 known species currently.
The common sole, known as Solea solea , is the best known representative of an extended family, as well as being the most used in international gastronomy.
Anatomically, this family is characterized by thin and dark colored pleuronectiform (flat) fish, usually greenish or brownish. These shades allow the soles to blend easily on the sandy bottoms where they live.
The soles find their natural habitat at the bottom of the salt water and fresh water streams. When living in captivity, they spend nearly 90% of their lives lying on the aquarium bed. Their diet is based on the consumption of shellfish, but they are voracious predators that can eat all kinds of prey.
General information about the rhombus
We can call turbot the two species that make up the Scophthalmidae family, which includes the turbot and the dab.
The common turbot or turbot ( Lepidorhombus boscii ) is the best known and widely diffused species. While the turbot ( Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis ) is usually seen less frequently.
These fish show a flat, thin and elongated body, with a length of 40 to 60 cm and a weight of about 5 – 6 kg. Their body is translucent, with a predominant shade similar to the color of the sand. However, there are also specimens with bluish or silver details.
Its natural habitat is the cold waters of the northeastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Like sole, turbot are demersal fish, that is, they live very close to the bottom of streams. They typically live in the middle of sandy banks with depths between 900 to 1000 meters.
Turbot feeding is based on the consumption of smaller fish (boxfish, sardines, koi, etc.), crustaceans, fry and cephalopods. In situations of food shortage, they can consume fish of their own species.
Main differences between sole and turbot
As we have already seen, there are important differences between sole and turbot, not only in their appearance, but also in their habitat and behavior. Although both are highly regarded for their white, fine and flavorful meat, they are actually very different fish.
Morphological / anatomical differences
The shape of their bodies is one of the most obvious differences between sole and turbot. Although both are flatfish, turbot has an elongated, thin and translucent body. While the sole is an oval and slightly asymmetrical fish.
Another important difference between them is the position of their eyes. In sole, the eyes are placed on the right side of the body and are further apart from each other. The rhombus has darker and closer eyes, located on the left side of its body and separated by a protuberance of the bones.
Both sole and turbot have a light colored lower body, similar to cream. However, the sole is brown or greenish in its upper part, while the turbot has a sandy color.
Other morphological characteristics of the sole are the protruding U-shaped mouth and the small toothed scales located on both sides of its body.
Habitat and global distribution
Both sole and turbot live near or directly lying on the bottom of the bodies of water they inhabit.
However, turbot is usually found in deeper water, between 900 and 1000 meters.
While the sole of usually lives in shallower water, between 10 and 300 meters deep.
Due to its great variety of species, sole has a wider distribution worldwide than turbot.
However, the huge demand for meat has placed sole on the endangered species list.
