Finless Sole

The Finless Sole (Pardachirus marmoratus) is a tropical fish species commonly found in the undefined, including areas like the 🌊 Red Sea, 🌊 Persian Gulf, Durban in 🇿🇦 South Africa, and 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka. It typically inhabits shallow coastal waters at depths ranging from 1 to 15 meters (3 to 49 feet), where it is usually found on sandy and muddy bottoms. The finless sole reaches a maximum length of 26 cm (about 10 inches), though it is more commonly around 20 cm (roughly 8 inches).

This fish primarily feeds on invertebrates that live on the ocean floor. It is marketed fresh for consumption. One of the unique features of the finless sole is its ability to produce a bitter toxin from the base of its dorsal and anal fins. This toxin serves as a deterrent to predators, including sharks, and has potential use as a shark repellent. The name "Pardachirus" is derived from Greek, where "pardias" refers to a fish similar to the grey mullet, and "cheir" means hand.