Page 107 - Caribbean Reef Life Demo
P. 107
PEACOCK FLOUNDER
(Bothus lunatus) < 45 cm / 18 in
lue rosettes ne er ro n on the od . lue s ots on the head and ns. orehead notched ust a o e the u er li .
Flounders start out life like most other shes: in a planktonic stage with a symmetrical body and an eye on either side of their heads. As the larva grows, the right eye slowly moves around to the other side of the head. oung ounders then settle down onto a sandy part of the reef and begin hunting by camou age.
Flounders can change color very rapidly, even while swimming over different types of reef oor. They may start out greenish as they swim over patches of algae and then turn almost white as they move over sand. This camou age helps keep them invisible to both predators and prey.
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