Peacock Flounder | Oceana

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Peacock Flounder

These bright and colorful fish live their lives on their sides, with both eyes located on their left side. Peacock flounders are also masters of disguise, both being able to blend into their surroundings and bury themselves in the sand!

 

The peacock flounder, also known as the plate fish, lives in shallow sandy bottoms near coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves in the Atlantic Ocean. As adults, these fish are typically about 35 centimeters (13.8 inches) long and have a flat, circular body with both of their eyes on the left side of their head. They are usually dark brown with bright blue rings and spots that decorate their bodies. However, when peacock flounders are threatened, they can rapidly change their colors to blend into their surroundings and the sea floor. They also dive and bury themselves in the sand to hide from predators like sharks, larger fish such as snappers, and rays. Because they rarely stray far from the ocean floor, flounders eat other small bottom-dwelling animals like fish, octopus, and crustaceans.

These fish undergo a remarkable transformation over their lifetime. Before they become adults, peacock flounders are in a larvae state where they are almost transparent. They also have one eye on each side of their bodies at this stage of their life. When these fish start developing into adults, their dorsal fins separate from their heads and a slit is left. Then, the eye from their right side will migrate through this slit, to join their other eye on their left side! After fully developing into an adult, peacock flounders establish home territories. Each male will keep their own, fiercely defended territory, with females occupying smaller territories within the male’s.

 

 

The peacock flounder may be caught by artisanal and recreational fisheries, but not at levels thought to be detrimental to their population. These fish occasionally show up in the aquarium trade as well. However, these threats are not considered major, and peacock flounders are listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.

 

 

Many of the habitats that peacock flounders depend on – seagrass beds, mangroves, and coral reefs, face destruction or degradation from climate change as well as human activity. Safeguarding these areas from highly destructive fishing practices and other actions is important to ensure peacock flounders have the habitat they need to survive. Additionally, taking key actions to prevent the acceleration of the climate crisis – like stopping offshore drilling – benefits their habitat and contributes to the long-term survival of these fish.

 

 

 

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