Both eyes on one side of the head. Camouflage so perfect they disappear against sand within seconds.
Flatfish — including flounder, sole, peacock flounder — start life as normal-bodied fish but undergo a remarkable metamorphosis: one eye migrates across the head to the other side, and the fish settles on its blind side for an adult life flat on the substrate. Both eyes face up.
Their camouflage is the best on the reef — they can change colour and pattern to match sand, gravel, or coral rubble within seconds. The peacock flounder (Bothus mancus) and panther flounder are Indo-Pacific photogenic stars.
Common at Andaman, Maldives, Bali sand patches. Once spotted, they're extremely patient subjects — they don't move unless threatened, which lets you photograph them at length.
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This species hasn't been logged at any of our partner sites yet — destination + season data will appear here once we've confirmed a reliable spot.
We're still curating destinations where this species can be reliably encountered. Check back soon, or chat with us for a custom itinerary.
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