Lateral line and caudal fin anomalies in common sole (Solea solea Linnaeus, 1758) from southern Aegean Sea

Abstract

This study presents two anomalies that were found in two wild common sole (Solea solea Linnaeus, 1758) specimens. Specimens were captured with 80 mm stretched mesh size trammel net incidentally (in June 2014 and in December 2015) from Güllük Bay, southwest of Turkey where is one of the important common sole fishery areas. Female common sole specimen has lateral line anomaly. According to observations, the lateral line has unordinary shape – labyrinth like, furcate. Other sample, male specimen, has caudal fin anomaly. The specimen has large body size and hence, it was thought that having no caudal fin did not affect its swimming ability besides activities like feeding. The present study contributes to literature about rare anomalies in wild fish stocks.