Fun Plaice Facts For Kids

Plaice fish are right-eyed flounder fish belonging to the family of Pleuronectidae. It is a commercially valuable European flatfish that is closely related to sole, flounder, and halibut. It lives on sandy sea beds ranging from the Barents Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and the North Sea. In the world of cuisine, plaice is a low-fat, low-calorie fish that is perfect for a low-sugar diet since it is carbohydrate-free. Plaice is also considered a rich source of protein.

Fresh plaice can be breadcrumbed and either shallow or deep-fried. Its thin fillets and delicate meat enable speedy cooking techniques; for example, searing plaice is great. Why not take a stab at cutting it into strips before breadcrumbing them to make goujons for a tasty snack? Or, for a healthier alternative, try heating or grilling the fish. Season it simply with some salt and brush it with olive oil before putting it under a hot flame grill for few moments or in a hot oven on a lined baking tray. Plaice fish has a sweet and mild flavor and is widely loved.

Plaice fish hunt for food around the clock, no matter what the weather or water conditions are. Areas of seabed sand bordered by rocks and rough ground draw plaice shoals. Plaice is a flatfish native to the United Kingdom's waters which is recognizable by its bright orange and red spots on the dark side of the skin.

Here are lots of plaice fish facts and American plaice interesting facts, that everyone will enjoy. Let's have a look at these interesting facts, and if you do like these, then do read our codfish and flounder facts too.
 

What type of animal is a plaice?

Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) is a variety of flatfish that is related to sole, flounder, and halibut fish.

What class of animal does a plaice belong to?

Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) belongs to the class of Actinopterygii.

How many plaice are there in the world?

The exact number of plaice in the world is not known, but even though their population growth has declined, they exist in safe numbers today.

Where do plaice live?

There are different types of plaice living around America, Europe, Alaska, Japan, and Korea. Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) is a commercially important flatfish and many live on the sea bed of the European shelf. Plaice geographically ranges from the Barents Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and the North Sea. They are also found in the Atlantic, the Bering Sea, and the northern Pacific. Plaice live on the sand near the seafloors up to the depth of 656 ft (200 m).

What is a plaice's habitat?

Plaice lives on sea beds all around the United Kingdom. Younger fish are usually found near the shore and in estuaries which are important nursery habitats. Plaice mainly live in shallow waters near the shore, in sandy bottom conditions. The fish is found in Europe, where it is called the 'rough dab', and North America, where they are known as 'dab' fish.

Who do plaice live with?

They live in schools of plaice fish, but they are often spotted exploring on their own.

How long does a plaice live?

There are different species of plaice fish, and each has a different life span. The American plaice lives for up to 20 years. The Alaskan plaice lives for about 30 years, and the European plaice lives the longest, for up to 40-50 years. Despite this, sadly most fish are caught when they are only about seven to eight years old.

How do they reproduce?

The female plaice or flatfish delivers her eggs into the water, where the male fertilizes them. Females of this species discharge more than a million eggs all at once, the eggs coast around in the ocean and hatches in a couple of days.

What is their conservation status?

Plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. This species is caught frequently by fishermen, but it is noted that their population has not been declining dramatically.

What do plaice look like?

Like other family members, a plaice normally has both eyes on the right side of the head. It also has about four to seven bony bumps near its eyes. The maximum length it reaches is about 36 in (90 cm) and it has red or orange spots on a brown body. They are one of the most highly valued food fish.

How cute are they?

Plaice have an interesting appearance, different from the regular fish of the sea, but are not often seen as cute.

How do they communicate?

The most common forms of communication for these fish are motion, smell, and sound. They are known to hide in the sand to avoid predators and when hunting. They stay still under the sand until their prey arrives and in a swift motion catch them by surprise.

How big is a plaice?

American plaice fish (Hippoglossoides platessoides) are brown or reddish and are usually smaller than European plaice, with rough skin and larger scales. The maximum length they reach is 32.5 in (82.6 cm). Alaskan plaice fish can grow up to 24 in (60 cm) long. Scale-eye fish can grow up to 18 in (46 cm) long.

How fast can a plaice swim?

Their swimming speed is not officially recorded.

How much does a plaice weigh?

Plaice (or flatfish) can weigh up to 2.2-8.8 lb (1-4 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

They do not have specific names for males and females.

What would you call a baby plaice?

Baby plaice are called 'fry'.

What do they eat?

Plaice mainly eat mollusks which are shelled animals like clams, cockles, and mussels that are found near the coast. These fish are most active during the night and move close to the shore to feed when it is dark. In the daytime, they remain still and covered under a layer of sand to hide from predators.

Are they dangerous?

They are not particularly dangerous, especially to humans.

Would they make a good pet?

Plaice fish can be an excellent pet in an aquarium.

Did you know...

Plaice fish start their lives looking like normal fish, but they change as they grow. Their eyes move to one side of their face, and they end up swimming on their side. Plaice are right-eyed flounder, which means both their eyes are on the right side of the fish.

How to draw plaice

Plaice fish is fairly easy to draw.

Step 1: Draw their body. This may look like a regular fish body, except make it wide at the top and bottom.

Step 2: Draw their tail and fins. The fins extend from its head all the way to its tail.

Step 3: Draw its mouth, with two eyes on its head. Yes, two eyes, on the same side!

Step 4: For body patterns, draw curvy lines starting from its mouth to the tail or add red spots to their body.

Now color them in, and you're done!

Eating plaice fish

Plaice, also called flatfish, is a low-fat, low-calorie type of seafood that can be suitable for low-carbohydrate diets because it is carbohydrate-free. Plaice is also considered a rich source of protein. Plaice is probably the world's best-known flatfish because of its flavorsome meat, almost creamy texture, and versatility in the kitchen. This fish is popular in many European countries like the United Kingdom and Germany, but Scandinavia is especially fond of this tasty flatfish. Plaice is a flat fish that has a very sweet and mild flavor. Do you like Danish food? In Danish cuisine, these fishes are one of the most commonly eaten fishes. You can purchase them at your local fish stalls or fisheries and even book them online for doorstep delivery. Fresh Plaice can also be oven-baked.

How to pronounce 'plaice'

The name of these marine fish is pronounced: 'play-ss'. The same way that you pronounce the word 'place'.

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 chum salmon, or the cownose ray.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our plaice coloring pages.