Dor’s Sole

Dor’s Sole (Soleichthys dori) is a small, right-eyed flatfish with an oval, highly compressed body, reaching a maximum length of 10.6 centimeters (4.2 inches). The ocular (upper) side exhibits a distinct pattern of evenly spaced, dark transverse bars against a lighter background. Its snout is noticeably longer than the diameter of its eye. This species can be differentiated from Soleichthys heterorhinos, originally described from Ambon, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, by these appearance and anatomical characteristics. It is further distinguished from a similar undescribed species from 🇫🇲 Micronesia by possessing 98 to 115 lateral-line scales and 50 or 51 vertebrae. Differences in coloration and specific anatomical details also separate it from Soleichthys multifasciatus (🇮🇳 India) and Soleichthys nigrostriolatus (🇫🇯 Fiji).

This sole inhabits shallow marine environments, typically occurring on sandy bottoms or mixed sand and rubble patches near reef structures at depths of 1 to 10 meters (3 to 33 feet). It employs camouflage to blend with the substrate. Its diet consists primarily of benthic invertebrates, consuming small animals found on or within the seabed. The genus name Soleichthys combines Latin and Greek roots meaning "sandal fish," referring to its flattened body. The species name dori honors Menahem Dor for his significant contributions to the study of the 🌊 Red Sea fish fauna, including recording the first specimen of this species from the area.