Differences Between Sole And Rooster
The rooster and the sole are the two most recognized representatives of the flatfish family, being confused with some frequency. Although they are related and look similar to the naked eye, there are some differences between sole and rooster that allow us to distinguish them.
Here’s a summary of the main differences between these two highly prized fish.
Some general facts about sole
The Soleidae family comprises several types of flat-bodied fish that are commonly called sole. It is an extensive family, with more than 120 species known today.
The common sole ( Solea solea ) is the most recognized representative of an extended family, as well as being the most widely used in international gastronomy.
Anatomically, they are characterized by being pleuronectiform (flat) fish, thin and dark in color, generally greenish or brownish. These tones allow the sole to be easily camouflaged in the bottom of the courses where they live.
Sole find their natural habitat at the bottom of fresh and salt water courses. In aquariums, they usually spend almost 90% of their lives lying on the bed of the fish tank. Their diet is based on the consumption mostly of crustaceans, but they are voracious predators that can eat all kinds of prey.
General facts about roosterfish
We can call roosters to the two species that make up the Scophthalmidae family , which also includes turbot and dandruff.
The common rooster or four-spotted rooster ( Lepidorhombus boscii ) is the most recognized and widely distributed species. While the northern roosterfish ( Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis ) is usually seen less frequently.
These fish exhibit a flat, thin and elongated body, with a length of 40 to 60 cm, and a weight of around 5 to 6 kg. Its body is translucent, with a predominant hue similar to the color of sand. However, there are also specimens with bluish or silver details.
Its natural habitat is the cold waters of the northeastern coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As with sole, roosters are demersal fish, that is, they live very close to the bottom of water courses. They generally live in the middle of sandy banks with depths of 900 to 1000 meters.
The rooster’s diet is based on the consumption of smaller fish (bull, sardines, koi, etc.), crustaceans, fingerlings and cephalopods. In situations of food shortage, they may consume fish of their own species.
Main differences between sole and rooster
As we have already seen, there are important differences between sole and rooster, not only in their appearance, but also in their habitat and behavior. Although both are highly valued for their white, fine and tasty meat, in reality, they are very different fish.
Morphological / anatomical differences
The shape of their bodies is one of the most obvious differences between sole and rooster. Although both are flatfish, the rooster has a long, thin and translucent body. While the sole is an oval and slightly asymmetrical fish.
Another important difference between them is the position of their eyes. In sole, the eyes are arranged on the right side of the body and are further apart from each other. The rooster’s eyes are darker and closer together, located on the left side of its body and separated by an elevation of its bone.
Both sole and roosterfish have a light, cream-colored lower body. However, the sole is brown or greenish on top, while the rooster has a sandy coloration.
Other morphological characteristics of sole are its protruding “U” shaped mouth and the small toothed scales located on both sides of its body.
Habitat and world distribution
Both sole and roosters live near or directly lying at the bottom of the bodies of water they inhabit. However, the rooster is usually found in deeper waters, between 900 and 1000 meters. The soles tend to be concentrated in shallower waters, from 10 to 300 meters deep.
Thanks to the great variety of species, sole have a wider worldwide distribution than roosters. However, the enormous demand for its meat has made the sole one of the species at risk of extinction.
