Yellowfin Sole: Limanda aspera (Pallas, 1814)
An abundant flatfish in the Bering Sea, present but less common in the Chukchi Sea
Size
- Up to 50 cm
Color & Characteristics
- Eyed side brown; blind side snowy white, except pale yellow in juveniles and small adults
- Median fins yellowish; narrow black line along base of dorsal and anal fins
- Lateral line with high arch over pectoral fin
- Ctenoid (spiny) scales on eyed side with 1 spinule and only a few with 2 spinules, vs. 3-10 spinules per scale in Sakhalin sole, L. sakhalinensis.
Habitat
- Predominantly boreal Pacific
- Benthic, from shallow waters to depth of 600 m, typically < 150 m, on mud, sand, and mixed substrate
- Near-bottom temperatures of –1.5 to 13°C
Feeding
- Eat crustaceans, worms, molluscs, hydroids, brittle stars, other benthic invertebrates, and fishes
- Ascend to near surface in summer to feed on ctenophores, mysids, and euphausiids
Life cycle
- Migrate from overwintering grounds in deep water to nearshore waters to spawn in summer
- Eggs and larvae pelagic
- Egg diameter 0.76-0.85 mm
- Number of eggs 1,300,000-3,300,000
- Juveniles remain in nearshore nursery areas for first few years, disperse to offshore waters at 3-5 years of age
- Females mature at 23-24 cm and 6-7 years, and males at 20 cm and 4-5 years
- Live at least 13 years
Page Author: CW Mecklenburg & TA Mecklenburg
Updated: March 5, 2011
