Plaice is the common name for a small group of flatfish. One of the most commercially important kinds of plaice inhabits European waters in the North Sea and around Ireland. This species, often called the European plaice, grows to about 3 feet (0.9 meter) long. It has smooth, brown-colored skin with distinct orange spots on its upper side. This fish generally lives on the seabed in shallow waters. Young plaice inhabit extremely shallow waters. Adults are found as deep as 400 feet (120 meters).
Plaice eat mainly invertebrates, such as mollusks and worms. Mature plaice also prey on other fish, including eels.
