Common dab

Limanda limanda

A small flatfish of northeastern Atlantic sandy and muddy bottoms, where it lies low and feeds on benthic animals.

Key facts

Common dab (Limanda limanda) is a carnivore animal classified as Fish · Pleuronectiformes · Pleuronectidae.
Primary habitats are coast · open ocean, with a range across Atlantic Ocean · Palearctic.
Activity is cathemeral, sociality is loose group, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
A small flatfish of northeastern Atlantic sandy and muddy bottoms, where it lies low and feeds on benthic animals.
Found from shallow coasts to continental shelves around the North Sea, western Baltic, and British waters, especially over sand, mud, or fine gravel.

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Found from shallow coasts to continental shelves around the North Sea, western Baltic, and British waters, especially over sand, mud, or fine gravel.

The body is flattened with both eyes on the right side. The upper surface is brown and mottled, blending with the seabed.

It rests partly buried and makes short bursts before settling again. Juveniles often use shallow nursery grounds.

It eats worms, bivalves, small crustaceans, and small bottom fish, picking prey from sediment.

Spawning usually occurs offshore from winter into spring. Eggs and larvae drift before young settle to the bottom.

Common dab is eaten in Europe and often appears in coastal mixed fisheries, though it is less prized than larger flatfish.