Flatfish
Sole is a type of flatfish of varying families. Generally speaking, they are the members of the family Soleidae, but, outside Europe, the name 'sole' is also applied to various other similar flatfish, especially other members of the sole suborder Soleoidei as well as members of the flounder family. In European cookery, there are several species which may be considered 'true' soles, but the common or Dover sole Solea solea, often simply called the 'sole', is the most esteemed and most widely available.
The Peacock Flounder, also known as Plate Fish, or known simply as Flounder, is laterally compressed and lays on its side on the bottom of the ocean or aquarium. Early in development, both eyes migrate to the left or right side, usually the left. The Peacock Flounder has a dull color with occasional light blue spotting. This allows it to lay in the sand, where the dull colors blend in making it very hard to see.
It requires a 125 gallon or larger aquarium with a sandy bottom which will allow it to blend in and change positions. It will eat most any invertebrate or small fish that come within its vicinity.
The diet should consist of chopped marine meats.
The species is included here because (i) Z. penescalaris is a south-western species that may have a limited geographic distribution within South Australia; (ii) the species occurs in coastal waters within a relatively small depth range, and may thus be vulnerable to nearshore impacts; (iii) there is little existing information about the relative abundance, biology and population dynamics of this species across its range; (iv) the species is taken as bycatch in the prawn fisheries in South Australia, but the numbers taken, and the potential impacts on Dusky-banded Sole populations, have not been investigated; and (v) very little is known of the relative abundance, biology, and population dynamics of this species.