Fun Lemon Sole Facts For Kids

The lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) is a right-eyed fish. They are from the Pleuronectidae family. They belong to the flatfish category of fish. It has a small head with scaly skin. They are very famous seafood because of their delicate flesh, and they taste best when they are fresh. They have a mildly sweet taste, hence, they should be eaten as fresh as possible. The lemon sole lives in the shallow seas but prefers cold temperatures for their habitat.

The Marine Conservation Society rates fish based on how and where it is caught. According to this criteria, the lemon sole is rated a 3 by the Marine Conservation Society. Here are some fascinating facts about this right-eyed fish species, the lemon sole. Hereafter, do check our other fact files on rays and sockeye salmon.

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What type of animal is a lemon sole?

A lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) is a fish that loves to live in a colder part of the ocean. This cold temperature is habitable for a lemon sole.

What class of animal does a lemon sole belong to?

The lemon sole belongs to the Fish class of the animal kingdom. This deepwater fish is an extremely popular delicacy in seafood restaurants across the world.

How many lemon soles are there in the world?

The population of lemon soles in the world is unknown, however, one can say it is definitely a lot because even after their extensive fishing, the lemon sole species is nowhere near extinction.

Where does a lemon sole live?

A lemon sole lives in the shallow ocean of the Atlantic and European continents. Like other fish, lemon soles can be seen in a group and usually prey in a group.

What is a lemon sole's habitat?

A lemon sole lives at the bottom of the oceans on the sea bed. They are usually found at depths of 660 ft (200 m) under the water. Their habitat includes sandy sea beds in the ocean. They prefer to live in the shallow water. The sandy beds are a perfect habitat for them to easily hide in case of danger. Their reddish-brown color makes it easy to hide in the sand on the sea beds.

Who do lemon soles live with?

The lemon sole lives with other lemon soles in schools or shoals. Their habitat consists of other sea creatures as well.

How long does a lemon sole live?

A lemon sole can live for 14 years in the ocean, just like many other fish species.

How do they reproduce?

Lemon soles commonly reproduce at the depth of around 600-1000 ft during the breeding season. No specific duration of a breeding season has been noted by the scientists. They prefer colder temperatures to lay eggs. The eggs of the lemon sole are pelagic, spherical and 0.04-0.05 in (1.13 -1.45 mm) in diameter. The eggs of lemon soles hatch after 10-15 days of laying.  

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of a Lemon Sole is that of Least Concern as per IUCN as adequate numbers of these fish are present in the oceans across the world.

What do lemon sole look like?

The lemon sole is one of the flatfish species. They have an oval-shaped body like others from their family. Their skin is scaly and wet with a small head. The lemon sole is a right-eyed fish and is reddish-brown in color on the upper side and their lower side is white-colored. These fish have a tinge of yellow, green, pink, and orange colors on the reddish-brown side of the skin. The pectoral fin of a lemon sole, near its head, has a big orange patch behind it. The lateral line of these fish is slightly curved near the pectoral fin.

How cute are they?

The lemon sole is not cute. They look very ugly and their skin is not smooth. However, a lemon sole does taste good when eaten.

How do they communicate?

Lemon soles communicate with the means of motion. They are laid out on the bottom of the ocean. They move in specific motions to signal the other lemon sole fish. Like most other fish, the lemon sole fish, too, can send and detect mild electrical signals. Some lemon soles leave behind a trail of smells for other lemon soles to follow.

How big is a lemon sole?

A lemon sole fish is around 8-26 in (20.3-66.04 cm) length. They are flatfish and thus hardly have any height. They are at least three times bigger than an average-sized crab.

How fast can a lemon sole swim?

Marine biologists have not yet been able to determine the swimming speed of a lemon sole as the fish reside in the depths of the oceans.

How much does a lemon sole weigh?

A lemon sole can weigh up to 6.6 lb (2.99 kg), depending on the habitat and eating habits.

What are the male and female names of the species?

There are no specific names for the males and females of the lemon sole species. They are known as the male lemon soles and female lemon soles respectively.

What would you call a baby lemon sole?

A baby lemon sole is called a fry, like most other fish species.

What do they eat?

Lemon soles eat marine worms, shellfish, crab, prawns, and other aquatic creatures that they can get hold of.

Are they dangerous?

The lemon sole fish are not particularly dangerous. Lots of people eat fresh lemon sole fish regularly, and no adverse side effects have been noted, besides allergies.

Would they make a good pet?

The lemon sole will not make a good pet. They are adapted to deep-sea waters. Creating that habitat in a fish tank, in a regular family household, is impossible. That is why having a lemon sole as a pet is not a good idea.

Did you know...

Sole fillets is a very famous seafood dish made from the delicate flesh of a lemon sole of which lemon juice is an important ingredient.

A fresh lemon sole tastes better than a non-fresh one.

Seasoned lemon soles are usually served with greens in seafood restaurants.

The first lemon fish caught on British shores was in 1980.

The lemon sole is cut from head to tail for eating. After cooking it in a pan, season the fish with some salt, pepper, and lemon juice for a great taste.

What is the difference between a sole and a lemon sole?

A difference between a lemon sole and a sole is that the sole is grayish-brown in color and a lemon sole is reddish-brown in color. The common soles can grow up to 28 in (71 cm), but the lemon sole can grow only up to 26 in (66 cm). The eyes of a sole are very close to each other while that is not the case with a lemon sole.

Why is a lemon sole called a lemon sole?

The lemon sole is said to get its name from the French term 'limade' which comes from the French word for lime, 'limon'. The word lime translates to file which is a tool used for smoothing rough surfaces. In this case, the rough surface is a denotation for the rough, scaly texture of the lemon sole's skin. And the word limon means slit.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other fish including thresher shark facts or yellowfin tuna facts.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable lemon sole coloring pages.