• The common sole, Solea solea, found in European waters, the "Dover sole" of European cookery.
• Microstomus pacificus, found in the northeastern Pacific and called "Dover sole" along the Pacific coast of America.

The small eyes are close to each other on the right-hand side of the body. This gives the fish the possibility of lurking half-buried in the sand for passing prey. The common sole, just like all other flatfish, is born as an "ordinary" fish with one eye on each side of the body. The young metamorphose to flatfish when they are about one cm long. The common sole approaches a maximum length of approximately 70 cm.

Chefs prize Dover sole for its mild, buttery sweet flavor and versatility and for its ease of filleting. The fish yields fillets that hold together well in a variety of recipes.

The name "Dover" comes from Dover, the English fishing port landing the most sole in the 19th century.

Other species named "Dover sole"

References

• Clover, Charles. 2004. The End of the Line: How overfishing is changing the world and what we eat. Ebury Press, London. ISBN 0-09-189780-7