[2][3] The yellowfin sole has a deep body, with a small mouth, moderately large and closely situated eyes, and a slightly pronounced snout.

[3][4] The yellowfin sole was originally described as Pleuronectes asper by Pallas in 1814, and subsequently as Limanda asprella by Hubbs in 1915.

[4] The yellowfin sole occupies a moderately high trophic level in the food chain.

The diet of the yellowfin sole consists mainly of zoobenthic organisms, including polychaetes and amphipods such as hydroids, worms, mollusks, and brittle stars.

Yellowfin sole have high reproductive potential, with females producing 1 to 3 million eggs.