Gymnachirus melas

Gymnachirus melas
Naked Sole – Gymnachirus melas
Source: FAO 2002
FamilyScientific NameAuthorYearCommon Name
AchiridaeGymnachirus melasNichols1916Naked Sole

Gymnachirus melas

Unique Characters: Head, body and fins lacking scales, and covered with very loose skin. Ocular side of adults usually with 20-30 prominent dark, relatively wide, crossbands, wider than pale interspaces, breaking into blotches on dorsal and anal fins.

Similar Species:

Hogchoker
Trinectes maculatus

Lined Sole
Achirus lineatus

Trinectes maculatus
Hogchoker – Trinectes maculatus
Achirus lineatus
Lined Sole – Achirus lineatus
Photo Credit: G.W. Link

Hogchoker Trinectes maculatus. Body covered with scales, skin not very loose. Ocular side of adults without prominent crossbands (crossbands if present, faint and narrow). Interbranchial septum entire, without foramen. Ocular-side pectoral fin rudimentary, normally with a single ray (rarely with 2 or 3 fin rays) or absent altogether; blind-side pectoral fin usually absent (or rarely present, with a single ray).

Lined Sole Achirus lineatus. Body covered with scales, skin not very loose. Ocular side of adults without prominent crossbands (crossbands if present, faint and narrow). Interbranchial septum pierced by a foramen. Ocular-side pectoral fin usually with 2-8 rays; blind-side pectoral fin either with a single ray or absent.

Flabby Sole
Gymnachirus nudus

Gymnachirus nudus, Flabby Sole.Source: FAO 2002
Flabby Sole, Gymnachirus nudus.
Source: FAO 2002

Flabby Sole, Gymnachirus nudus. Head, body, and fins lacking scales, and covered with very loose skin; ocular side of adults usually with usually 15-18 full and partial prominent crossbands from snout to caudal peduncle, extending onto dorsal and anal fins. Rare species in North Carolina.

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