The Dover Sole is one of several native flatfish that can be found around the southern coastlines of England. The other native flatfish are the halibut, brill, dab, turbot and plaice. The Dover Sole, like other flatfish, lies on the seabed on its side with both eyes set on one side of its head. However, when this fish is first born, it has an eye on each side of its head, like most fish.

The Dover Sole goes through a remarkable transformation because as its body first grows in depth and length, its left eye begins to move to the other side of its head. Basically it transforms itself into a ‘right-eyed fish’, which it is often called. After a few months the Dover Sole starts to develop a flatter shape and begins to look like other native flatfish. The adult Dover Sole is oval-shaped with a rounded head. It can grow up to seventy centimetres in length and can camouflage itself very well on the sea floor because its colour can vary between grey, red and brown with dark blotches.

Dover Soles are usually solitary fish that can be found on sandy or muddy seabeds as deep as three hundred metres. They mainly feed on small fish, crustaceans, soft-bodied molluscs and marine worms.