Bothus lunatus (peacock flounder) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 6 (15995799128)

Description:

Description: Bothus lunatus (Linnaeus, 1758) - peacock flounder on shallow subtidal seafloor. Flounders are a type of flatfish. As infants, they resemble ordinary fish by having bilaterally symmetrical, laterally compressed bodies. With ontogeny, the right eye migrates to the left side of the body. Adults lie flat on the seafloor, with both eyes are positioned on the now-dorsal (formerly left) side of an asymmetrical body. The peacock flounder has bluish-ringed spots on its body. It swims by vertical undulation, rather than lateral body wave migration in "ordinary" fish". Upon arrival at a new seafloor site, the flounder usually changes its colors to closely match its surroundings (I've witnessed this close-hand - the color change happens quickly). Classification: Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Actinopterygii, Pleuronectiformes, Bothidae Locality: landward of Snapshot Reef, Fernandez Bay, offshore western San Salvador Island, eastern Bahamas. Date: 22 March 2011, 14:09. Source: Bothus lunatus (peacock flounder) (San Salvador Island, Bahamas) 6. Author: James St. John.