Species learning profile

European plaice

Pleuronectes platessa

European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) is a saltwater fish associated with demersal habitat in Europe. Bright orange spots cover its smooth brown upper side.

Test your recall

Your learning progress stays on this device.

Dasar lautPleuronectidae

At a glance

Perairan
Air laut
Habitat
Dasar laut
Panjang maksimum
100 cm
Sebaran
Eropa
Famili
Pleuronectidae
Ordo
Pleuronectiformes

Observe

How to identify European plaice

  • Bright orange spots cover its smooth brown upper side.
  • Guide context: demersal habitat in Europe.
  • Reported maximum length: 100 cm — up to about the length of a guitar. Maximum is not the same as typical adult size.

Field note: color, size, and markings can change with age, sex, season, depth, and lighting. Use several traits together.

Place and pattern

Where it lives—and how it behaves

Habitat and range

This species is associated with demersal habitat across Europe. It lives on or close to the bottom, where sediment, rock, depth, and bottom-dwelling prey matter most.

Behavior

Burrows into sand during rest

Food-web connections

What it eats and why it matters

Diet

Worms, shellfish, and crustaceans.

Ecological role

Consumes abundant bottom invertebrates.

Remember

One fact worth keeping

European plaice dapat tumbuh hingga sekitar 100 cm dan sering ditemukan di sekitar Dasar laut.

Think like a conservationist

A conservation lens

Bottom-associated fish can be affected by seafloor disturbance, bycatch, warming, and changes to benthic prey.

This habitat lens is not a current population-status assessment. Status can differ among regions and change as new assessments are published; follow the reference links and local fisheries or wildlife agencies for current decisions.

Recall

Quick knowledge check

Which habitat is most closely associated with European plaice in this guide?

Keep exploring

References and further reading

Fishdle summarizes stable identification and ecology concepts in plain language. Taxonomy and population knowledge continue to change, so use primary assessments and regional authorities for conservation or management decisions.

Make connections