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Left-Eyed and Right-Eyed Flatfish

© Copyright 2001, Jim Loy

Flatfish are those fish that are flat; aren't you glad you asked? They are the flounders and soles that lay flat against the bottom of the ocean. Actually they are lying on their sides. When they are young, they swim upright, like other fish. Then they grow up and begin living on the bottom, on one side. The down side slowly turns white. And the bottom eye slowly moves to the other side of the head. Eventually both eyes are on the upper side of the body. Some species of flatfish are left-eyed, they normally live with their left side up. Other species are right-eyed. Most species have some individuals that turn over the other way. In other words, there will be some right-eyed fish of a left-eyed species, and vice versa.

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