Flounder
Flounder are a funny looking fish that are actually quite flat when you look at them closely. They live in the Northern Atlantic waters along the coast on the U.S. and Canada and can also be found in the Pacific Ocean.
The name “flounder” refers to several geographically and taxonomically distinct species. In the Western Atlantic there are the summer flounder, southern flounder, and the winter flounder, among other species. In Japan, the Japanese flounder is common.
Interestingly, founders have both eyes situated on one side of their head. Not born this way, baby flounders (flukes) go through a metamorphosis in which one eye migrates to the other side of the body so that both eyes are situated on the upward-facing side of its body. After metamorphosis, flounders lie on one side up on the ocean floor; either the left or right side depending on the species.
Flounder usually vary from around five to fifteen inches long, though sometimes they can grow up to three feet in length. Their width is usually around half their length. Flounder are known as ambush predators, feeding in the soft mud of the sea bottom. They can often be found near docks, bridge piles and other bottom incumbrances - they can even be found on bass grounds. A flounder’s diet consists mainly of fish spawn, crustaceans and small fish.