While exploring the Wreck of the Gamma, a sunken old freighter sitting just off the shore of 7-Mile Beach, my snorkeling buddy spotted this amazing fish. It looked like a dried up dead fish carcass, since it was the exact same color as the sandy shelf it laid upon, not to mention seriously ugly, except that its lips were moving. This crazy-looking brilliant creature is a type of flatfish called the peacock founder.
Not only did this camouflage genius have both eyes on the dorsal fin (left) side of its body, each eye moves independently on little stumps...how alien is that? They are born with eyes on both sides, but then one migrates over the top of their head to the other side as they reach adulthood. If you look closely, they have large dots all over their body which change colors to match the surroundings--scientists have conducted experiments where they are able to duplicate the patterns of a checkerboard even.
When the peacock founders swim, they wriggle fluidly on their side like sound waves. They normally inhabit the warmer Pacific regions, so we were lucky to come across one here. These predators in disguise are my new favorite fish!
Not only did this camouflage genius have both eyes on the dorsal fin (left) side of its body, each eye moves independently on little stumps...how alien is that? They are born with eyes on both sides, but then one migrates over the top of their head to the other side as they reach adulthood. If you look closely, they have large dots all over their body which change colors to match the surroundings--scientists have conducted experiments where they are able to duplicate the patterns of a checkerboard even.
When the peacock founders swim, they wriggle fluidly on their side like sound waves. They normally inhabit the warmer Pacific regions, so we were lucky to come across one here. These predators in disguise are my new favorite fish!
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