Microstomus pacificus

Pacific witch ( Microstomus pacificus )

The Pacific witch ( Microstomus pacificus ) is a flatfish from the northeastern Pacific. Their range extends from the Bering Sea to Baja California. They live on soft bottoms, in depths of 10-1370 meters, in winter they migrate to deeper water.

Features

The Pacific witch has an elongated, asymmetrical, laterally strongly flattened body. Both eyes are on the right side of the body. The mouth is small, and does not reach the anterior margin of the lower eye. The dorsal fin begins about the middle of the upper eye. The caudal fin is rounded. The lateral line is nearly straight. Pacific lemon sole are up to 76 centimeters long. The eye side is brown, the fins dark. The blind side is light to dark gray, sometimes with red spots. Pacific lemon sole are very slimy.

Fins formula: Dorsal 90-116, Anal 80-96

Use

Pacific lemon sole are caught and sold as fillets for human consumption or for processing into animal feed.