Lined Sole, Achirus lineatus
Lined Sole, Achirus lineatus. Fish caught from coastal waters of West Palm Beach, Florida, November 2023. Length: 17 cm (6.7 inches). Catch, photograph and identification courtesy of Dominick Porcelli, Lighthouse Point, Florida.
The Lined Sole, Achirus lineatus, is a member of the American Sole or Achiridae Family, and is known in Mexico as acedia rayada, sol, suela listada and suela pintada. Globally, there are eight species in the genus Achirus, of which four are found in Mexican waters, one in the Atlantic and three in the Pacific Ocean.
The Lined Sole has an oval, flattened body, with a width that is of 46% to 50% of standard length. They have a uniform dark gray to brown coloration and covered with small dark spots and indistinct lines. The anal and dorsal fins have dark spots. The rear of the body on the blind side is darker shaded. Their head has a rounded snout, a small oblique mouth, and small eyes on their right side with the upper eye occurring before the lower eye. Their anal fin has 38 to 48 rays and is fused to their pelvic fins; their dorsal fin originates above the eyes and has 49 to 60 rays; and, their pectoral fins are present on the ocular side, with 1 to 3 rays but absent on the blind side. Their body is covered with rough scales and tuffs of cirri that are longer in juveniles and diminished in adults. Their lateral line is straight.
The Lined Sole is a demersal species that is found over and within soft bottoms in bays, estuaries, and adjacent freshwater streams at depths up to 110 m (360 feet). They reach a maximum length of 23 cm (9.1 inches) and a maximum weight of 30 g (1 oz). They consume small crustaceans, small fishes and polychaetas worms. Their juveniles have a brief planktonic live and quickly move to the benthic stage. They have a tolerance to a wide range of salinities and are found in many locations where other flatfishes are absent. They are found half-buried in the substrate with only their eyes exposed. Although widespread and common in some areas the Lined Sole is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.
The Lined Sole is found in all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.
The Lined Sole is a straight forward identification. They might be confused with the Fringed Sole, Gymnachirus texae (distinct black lines; no scales), the Hogcroaker, Trinectes maculatges (distinct lines on the body; lacks pectoral rays) and the Scrawled Sole, Trinectes inscriptus (covered with a network of irregular dark lines).
From a conservation perspective, the Lined Sole is currently considered to be of Least Concern. They are a common bycatch of demersal trawl fisheries. They are small in stature, and although common they are seldom seen by humans, and are of limited interest to most. They are utilized by the aquarium trade on a limited basis and they are utilized as a bait fish for both fish and octopus.