The answer via National Geographic: “All flatfish have eyes on the end of stalks, so they pop out of the head “kind of like the eyes we saw in cartoons-ba-boing!” says George Burgess of the Florida Museum of Natural History. But how is this possible when their eyes are positioned where they are? Schreiber):Īlso, flatfish change colour to match their surroundings. The series of photos show this metamorphosis (images by Dr. There has been considerable controversy over the origin of flatfish, but recent discoveries of several fossil intermediate forms show that eye migration evolved gradually some fifty million years ago.” Source: Puget Sound Sea Life. With both eyes on the upper side they can use 3D vision to hunt and detect predators. the habitat is home to an abundance of prey such as worms and shrimp. Flatfish can hide from predators by burrowing, leaving only their eyes above the surface. Many fish avoid this habitat because of the lack of rocks or other features that would provide a hiding place. This adaptation “allows flatfish to exploit a common habitat – flat sandy bottoms. (I include photos of additional NE Pacific flatfish species at the end of this blog).Īs the larvae develop, the right or left eye (depending on species) migrates across the top of the head to the other side of the body changing some skull bones in the process. They are astounding adapted for life on the sand. All flounder species start off, when larvae, with eyes on either side of their heads. Rock Sole are a “righteye flounder” species. Be sure to read below about the “ba-boing” of their eyes! Yes, I am a scientist but that may not be a fully appreciated scientific descriptor.
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