''Synapturichthys kleinii'', Klein's sole or lace sole, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of economically important sole. It is the only known member of its

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

Description

This species grows to a length of TL, though most only reach around TL. The head is covered with filaments on the blind side (the side without the eyes), giving this fish a bearded appearance when viewed from the front. The eyes are green in colour. The body is pale brown. It is covered in large round blotches that are joined by smaller blotches. These form circles with white centers. This pattern extends onto the dorsal and anal fins. The caudal and pectoral fins are small.

Distribution and habitat

This fish is found in the Mediterranean Sea and along the Atlantic coast of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

, just barely entering the Indian Ocean in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. It is found on sandy and rubble sea beds, particularly close to ship wrecks and reefs.

Ecology

This fish feeds on small benthic invertebrates.

References

Soleidae Taxa named by Paul Chabanaud Monotypic fish genera {{Pleuronectiformes-stub