Peacock flounder are covered in spots. Its dorsal or back side is trimmed in dark flower-like spots with blue borders. Because of their spots, the peacock flounder is also called the flower flounder.
Its eyes stick up from just the dorsal side of the body and there is a wide space between them. One of the eyes is closer to the mouth than the other. The eyes are raised up on short stumps to give the peacock flounder a good view of its surroundings from the ocean floor. Each eye moves on its own; this not only helps the flounder watch out for predators, but it also helps the flounder look for a quick snack.
Peacock flounder live on sandy bottoms of coastal coral reefs and lagoons. This flounder will even bury itself under the sand, leaving only its eyes sticking out from the sand.
They are often seen in the sandy area at the mouth of the cove. They are difficult to spot because they blend into the sand so well, but a treat to watch “flying/gliding” across the sand.
Photos courtesy Sandi Strickland (sandandcphotos.com)