Righteye Flounders
Pleuronectidae
Fish, Algae & Other Life
Estuary and shallow nearshore habitat
iNaturalist record: Jun 2021
Meet this species
A juvenile righteye flounder was photographed on the rocky creek bed of the estuary at low tide. Flatfishes undergo one of the strangest transformations among local fishes: during development, one eye migrates across the head so the juvenile can live flattened against the seafloor.
Juvenile righteye flounder camouflaged against the shallow estuary bottom near Glasgow Creek.
What to look for:
Look carefully at shallow gravel or sand for the outline of a small flatfish. Righteye flounders rest on one side of the body, with both eyes positioned on the upper-facing side. Their mottled colouring can make them almost disappear against the bottom.
Why It Matters Here:
The location of this observation makes it especially valuable to the Glasgow project. A young marine fish using the shallow estuary directly illustrates the biological connection between Glasgow Creek, tidal habitat and the surrounding marine environment.
Field Record
Documented at Greene Point through field observations and photographs recorded on iNaturalist.