Peacock Flounder
The Peacock Flounder also known as Flowery Founder due to colorful patterns on the side that is not laying on the floor. This species is the most common flounder, they can be found at depths of 100 meters and inhabits in clear sandy areas near mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs.
One of the most noticeable features of this flat fish is that two eyes are on one side of its head. As juveniles, eyes are on both sides of the head but as they mature they go through metamorphosis which their right eye migrates towards the left.
The flounder has an exceptional characteristic, the ability to camouflage. They have specialized cells in its skin that contains various pigments, these cells are somehow connected into the vision of the fish. Whatever the fish sees it is transmitted to the cells and the pigmentation matches their surroundings. But occasionally they have a dull color with light blue spotting.
They can live up to 10 years and can reach a maximum length of 46cm. They breed around the year and mating usually happens before sunset and on average it lasts for 15 seconds. Flounders lay actively and wait during the day to feed predominately on crustaceans and fish. In turn they are preyed upon by both invertebrates and vertebrates.
Another interesting attribute of Peacock Flounder is the capability to withstand the strong neurotoxins of the pufferfish.
By Ericka Morillo