Flatfish is difficult to see but sports a migrating eye

By Susan Scott

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 31, 2011

~~<p>While snorkeling in four feet of water recently, I startled an invisible flatfish. The fish shot forward in a cloud of sand, undulating to a new spot like a fringed flying carpet. When it came to rest a few feet away, a riot of rainbow-colored daisies appeared on its skin. As the fish settled into its new location, the bright colors changed to pebble brown, and the fish once again became invisible.</p>
<p>Flatfish is the general name of about 570 species of, well, flat fish. A lot of reef fish are pancake flat, but most swim vertically, back up, belly down. A flatfish, however, spends its entire adult life lying on its side.</p>
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While snorkeling in four feet of water recently, I startled an invisible flatfish. The fish shot forward in a cloud of sand, undulating to a new spot like a fringed flying carpet. When it came to rest a few feet away, a riot of rainbow-colored daisies appeared on its skin. As the fish settled into its new location, the bright colors changed to pebble brown, and the fish once again became invisible.

Flatfish is the general name of about 570 species of, well, flat fish. A lot of reef fish are pancake flat, but most swim vertically, back up, belly down. A flatfish, however, spends its entire adult life lying on its side. Login for more...