| Peacock flounder | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bothus mancus inPolynesia | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Carangiformes |
| Suborder: | Pleuronectoidei |
| Family: | Bothidae |
| Genus: | Bothus |
| Species: | B. mancus |
| Binomial name | |
| Bothus mancus (Broussonet, 1782) | |
Thepeacock flounder (Bothus mancus), also known as theflowery flounder, is a species of fish in the familyBothidae (lefteye flounders). The species is found widely in relatively shallow waters in theIndo-Pacific, also ranging into warmer parts of the EastPacific.[2]
The peacock flounder is also called flowery flounder because it is covered in superficiallyflower-like bluish spots. As suggested by the family name,lefteye flounders have both eyes on top of the left hand side of their heads. Theeyes are raised up on short stumps likeradar dishes, and can move in any direction independent of each other. That feature provides flounders with a wide range of view. One eye can look forward while the other looks backward at the same time. The baby flounders have one eye on each side of their bodies like ordinary fish, and swim like other fishes do, but later on, as they undergo maturation to adulthood, the right eye moves to the left side, and flounders start to swim sideways, which gives them the ability to settle down flat on the bottom.[3][4] The maximum length of this flounder is about 45 centimetres (18 in).[2]
Peacock flounders are mostly found in shallow water onsandy bottoms. Sometimes they rest over piles of deadcorals or bare rock. They may be found as deep as 150 meters (490 ft).[4]
As most flounders, the peacock flounder is mainlynocturnal,[2] but is sometimes also active during the day.[3] It hunts for smallfish,crabs andshrimp.[3]
Peacock floundersbreed in late winter and early spring. After the female releases two to three millioneggs, malesfertilize them. The fertilizedeggs float close to the surface, carried by the currents, and hatch in 15 days. Before hatching the eggs sink to the bottom. For the next four to six months baby flounders float in the openocean, sometimes hundreds of miles from the place the eggs were released and hatched. During those months the right eye of the juvenile slowly moves to the left side.[3]
Like all flounders, peacock flounders are masters ofcamouflage. They usecrypticcoloration to avoid being detected by bothprey andpredators. Whenever possible rather than swim they crawl on their fins along the bottom while constantly changing colors and patterns. In a study, peacock flounders demonstrated the ability to change colors in just eight seconds. They were even able to match the pattern of acheckerboard they were placed on. The changing of the colors is an extremely complex and not well understood process. It involves the flounder's vision andhormones. The flounders match the colors of the surface by releasing differentpigments to the surface of the skincells while leaving some of the cells white by sequestering those pigments. If one of the flounder's eyes is damaged or covered by sand, the flounders have difficulties in matching their colors to their surroundings. When hunting or hiding from predators, the flounders bury themselves in the sand, leaving only the eyes protruding.[3][5][6]
flounder.
