Common European sole (Solea solea) is found from the British Isles south into the Mediterranean. This flounder grows to about 20 inches. The pectoral fin is very small. This is a pale brown fish with some darker spots. There is a nice color drawing on page 89 of the Diamond handbook on Britain and European Fish by Nichols and Miller.

True soles are different from the flounder group in that their body outline is more rounded especially near the front than either the right or left eyed flounders. One must note that the name sole is frequently applied to several of the flounders.

Flatfish Group, Order Pleuronectiformes, are a group of primarily marine fish that undergo some unusual changes in body shape as the fish leave the juvenile state. One of the eyes moves around to one side, and the fish have a superficial resemblance to rays and skates in that they are flat and can live on the bottom. There are about 600 species in this order.

There are 7 families. Included in this order are the right-eyed flounders (Family Pleuronectidae), the left eyed flounders (Family Bothidae), the large tooth flounders (Family Paralichthyidae), and the true soles (Family Soleidae).

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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