The sole is a flatfish with an oval and extremely compressed body. The head is small with a rounded face and small, arched mouth positioned inferiorly. The eyes, one of which “migrates” across the head during metamorphosis, are situated in the visible (upper) part of the body. The fish is covered with numerous, tiny, rectangular spiny scales. The fins lack any spiny rays. The camouflaged colouring of the dorsal part of the fish varies from a uniform greyish-brown to reddish, with little patches which may be diffuse and evident to varying degrees. The underside of the fish is whitish. Mediterranean specimens can live up to 20 years. According to the FAO, there are seven members of the genus Solea (from the Latin “solea”, meaning sandal) in the Mediterranean. Solea vulgaris (the common, or Dover sole) is often confused with Solea impar and Solea lascaris (sand sole). These can easily be distinguished by the presence of a distinctive nostril on the underside differing from the tube-like orifice on the common sole. The common sole readily adapts to different degrees of salinity and the fry frequently seek brackish waters (lagoons and river estuaries), where they remain for long periods before making for the open sea. It feeds on invertebrates and small fish, mainly at night, and reaches sexual maturity at 3-5 years of age, reproducing from January to May in the Upper Adriatic. The female lays numerous oily, light yellow eggs with a diameter of 1-1.5 mm which have the ability to float. It is a highly prized catch and is fished with special midwater trawl nets, known as “rapidi” and “sfogliare” nets, although it is sometimes caught with bottom trawl nets and fixed nets (gillnets). Minimum size is 20 cm.