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Plaice

Plaice ©Julie Hatcher

Plaice

Plaice is a common sight all around our coasts - if you can spot it! They are extremely well camouflaged against the seabed and can even change colour to better match their surroundings.

Scientific name

Pleuronectes platessa

When to see

January to December

Species information

Statistics

Length: normally up to 50cm
Classified as a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework and is listed as of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Habitats

About

Plaice is a diamond-shaped flatfish that lives on sandy seabeds all around the UK. Younger fish are found close to shore and in estuaries which are an important nursery habitat as they grow. Plaice feed on molluscs and worms - often nipping the siphons or tail ends off buried prey. Their mottled colouration provides excellent camouflage against sandy seabeds and are often only spotted once they move. They have characteristic orange spots all over the top side of their body - a helpful feature when trying to differentiate between flatfish species.

How to identify

There are several species of flatfish in UK seas. Plaice can be identified by their distinctive orangey spots.

Distribution

Found all around our coasts, also found in estuaries up to the limit of tidal influence.

Did you know?

Flatfish start life looking like a normal fish. As they grow, they begin to change - with one eye migrating over to the other side of the head. As adults, flatfish are essentially fish on their side. Plaice are right-eyed, meaning both eyes are on what was originally the fish's right side. Other species can be left or right-eyed. For example, the Turbot is left-eyed.