Arctic Science Journeys
Radio Script
1996

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125-Year Mix-up Leads to Naming of a New Flatfish Species
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"Apparently there was great discussion on the boat as to whether it was a rock sole or a butter sole or just what it was. They brought in 2 or 3 specimens and I agreed with them that it didn't look quite like a rock sole or a butter sole. It looked like something in between."

The fish were then sent to Jay Orr, a research zoologist at the National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle.

"It's a valid species. Probably actually one that was described in the mid-1800s. After its initial description it was lumped into what we commonly know as a rock sole, Lepidopsetta bilineata."

The mystery fish and the common rock sole look a lot alike, so for the next century the mistake would remain uncorrected as scientists and fishermen alike would refer to both as a common rock sole. As it turns out, the fish caught by the Prosperity would help resolve a 125-year-old case of mistaken identity.

"So far, the gill rakers are the only way to tell them apart. We've been struggling, trying to get characters. You can lay out the fish and separate them into the two groups, but it's not that easy."

To classify a specimen as a distinct species, scientists must see the same distinguishing characteristics throughout the specimen's lifetime. So far, they had studied the very young and adults raised in captivity. Missing were juveniles and adults caught in the wild. Juvenile-aged specimens caught by graduate students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks confirmed the gill raker differences at the fish's mid-life. And samples of adult fish caught by the Prosperity showed the same characteristics. Scientists had all the proof they needed to classify the mystery fish as a new species.

Jay Orr: "The scientific name probably will be this name that was used in the mid-1800s--1873 when it was first used--and that is Lepidopsetta perarcuata. As far as common name, we've just been using a real simple name of northern rock sole."

In the world of science, having something--even a fish--named after you is everything.

Allison Barnes: "Corky was the skipper of the boat and thought the common name should be Corky sole, because he fished them. The observer, Rory...thought Rory sole should be the common name for the fish. Personally, I like the name Allison sole."

The northern rock sole joins the list of 39 currently recognized flatfishes, including halibuts, flounders, turbots and soles that are common in Alaska waters. For Arctic Science Journeys, this is Debra Damron.