# Common dab
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{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Common dab
| image = Limanda limanda.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref =[{{cite iucn |author=Monroe, T. |author2=Costa, M. |author3=Nielsen, J. |author4=Herrera, J. |author5=de Sola, L. |date=2014 |title=''Limanda limanda'' |volume=2014 |article-number=e.T18214863A45790133 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T18214863A45790133.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}]
| taxon = Limanda limanda
| authority = ([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), [1758](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae))
| range_map = Common Dab Limanda limanda distribution map.png
| range_map_caption = Common dab range.[International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) 2014. Limanda limanda. In: IUCN 2015. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015.2. {{cite web |url=http://www.iucnredlist.org |title=The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species |access-date=2011-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627094911/http://www.iucnredlist.org/ |archive-date=2014-06-27 }}. Downloaded on 23 July 2015.]
| synonyms = *''Pleuronectes limanda'' Linnaeus, 1758
*''Liopsetta limanda'' (Linnaeus, 1758)
*''Pleuronectes limandula'' [Bonnaterre](/source/Pierre_Joseph_Bonnaterre), 1788
*''Limanda vulgaris'' [Gottsche](/source/Carl_Moritz_Gottsche) 1835
}}
The '''common dab''' ('''''Limanda limanda''''') is an edible [flatfish](/source/flatfish) of the family [Pleuronectidae](/source/Pleuronectidae). It is a [demersal](/source/demersal) fish native to shallow seas around [Northern Europe](/source/Northern_Europe), in particular the [North Sea](/source/North_Sea), where it lives on sandy bottoms down to depths of about {{convert|100|m|ft}}. It can reach {{convert|40|cm|in}} in length and can weigh up to {{convert|1|kg|lb}}, though most specimens grow no longer than {{convert|20|cm|in}}.[{{cite web |url=http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=695# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060302172136/http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?ID=695 |archive-date=2 March 2006 |title=Limanda limanda |access-date=2009-05-12 |date=15 January 2009 |work=[Fishbase](/source/Fishbase) }}][{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZG8910 |title=Limanda limanda |access-date=2009-04-28 |author1=Picton, B.E. |author2=Morrow, C.C. |year=2005 |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland |publisher=Habitas Online |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050802113355/http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZG8910 |archive-date=2 August 2005 }}]
==Taxonomy and nomenclature==
The etymology of the name ''dab'' is unclear, but the modern English use seems to originate from the [Middle English](/source/Middle_English) ''dabbe''.[{{cite web |url=http://dictionary1.classic.reference.com/browse/dab |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104142300/http://dictionary1.classic.reference.com/browse/dab |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |title=dab |access-date=2009-05-12 |year=2006 |work=The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition |publisher=[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt](/source/Houghton_Mifflin_Harcourt) }}] It is first recorded in the late 16th century.[{{cite web |url=http://dictionary1.classic.reference.com/browse/dab |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104142300/http://dictionary1.classic.reference.com/browse/dab |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |title=dab |access-date=2009-05-12 |year=2006 |work=Random House Unabridged Dictionary |publisher=[Random House](/source/Random_House) }}]
The common dab was first named ''Pleuronectes limanda'' by [Carl Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus) in the 1758 [10th edition](/source/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae) of ''[Systema Naturae](/source/Systema_Naturae)''. It has also been moved to other genera, including ''Liopsetta'', and is now known as ''Limanda limanda''.[{{cite web|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Nomenclature/SynonymsList.php?ID=695&SynCode=12972&GenusName=Limanda&SpeciesName=limanda |title=Synonyms of Limanda limanda |access-date=2009-05-12 |date=7 May 2005 |work=[Fishbase](/source/Fishbase) }}]
==Identification==
thumb|Common dab caught while fishing
The common dab has a similar appearance to both the [plaice](/source/plaice) and the [flounder](/source/flounder), and similarly has both its eyes normally on the right-hand side of its body. The upper surface is usually pale brown in colour with scattered darker blotches and speckles, but does not have the orange spots typical of a plaice. They are distinguished from flounder by their translucent body. The [pectoral fin](/source/pectoral_fin)s may be orange. The [lateral line](/source/lateral_line) is marked by a distinctive semi-circular curve above the pectoral fin. The dorsal and anal fins form a gently rounded curve round the margin of the body. The scales have rough posterior edges and this fish has no large bony projections. A typical size is in the range {{convert|25|to|40|cm|0|abbr=on}}.[{{cite web |url=http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/kalat/dab |title=Dab: ''Limanda limanda'' |publisher=NatureGate |access-date=2013-12-17}}]
==Diet==
The common dab's diet consists of [zoobenthos](/source/zoobenthos) organisms such as [marine worm](/source/marine_worm)s, [mollusc](/source/mollusc)s, [sand eel](/source/sand_eel)s, [amphipods](/source/amphipoda), [crustacean](/source/crustacean)s, [echinoderm](/source/echinoderm)s and small pieces of fish.[{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/fishery/species/3361/en |title=Species factsheet: ''Limanda limanda'' |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |access-date=2013-12-17}}]
==Commercial fishing==
The dab is an abundant fish and until recently was mostly ignored as a commercial fish, with most dab only retained when they were caught as [by-catch](/source/Bycatch) of other targeted species.[{{cite book|last1=Burton |first1=Maurice |last2=Burton |first2=Robert |title=The international wildlife encyclopedia |volume=10 |year=2002 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7266-7 |pages=634–5 |chapter=Dab}}][{{cite book|author=North Sea Task Force|title=North Sea quality status report 1993|year=1993|publisher=Olsen and Olsen|location=Fredensborg, Denmark|isbn=978-1-872349-07-7|page=70}}] However, the declining numbers of other food fish such as [cod](/source/Atlantic_cod) and [haddock](/source/haddock) has seen dab become an increasingly important commercial species.[{{cite web | url = http://britishseafishing.co.uk/dab/ | title = Dab | date = 6 September 2012 | publisher = British Sea Fishing | access-date = 8 May 2014}}] They are now targeted by an increasing number of commercial vessels, especially in the North Sea. A number of high-profile celebrity chefs such as [Jamie Oliver](/source/Jamie_Oliver) have attempted to get people to eat more dab in order to take the pressure off the species of commercial fish which are currently heavily exploited.[{{cite web | url = http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fish-recipes/mediterranean-style-dab | title = Mediterranean-style Dab | publisher = JamieOliver.com | access-date = 8 May 2014}}]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Limanda limanda}}
* {{Wikispecies-inline|Limanda limanda}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1135526}}
common dab
common dab
Category:Fish of Europe
Category:Fish of the North Sea
common dab
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Common dab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_dab) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_dab?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.