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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