Flounder

(Platichthys flesus)

The flat flounder can adapt its colouring according to its surroundings, and it can dig itself into sand. Often only the bulging eyes, with which they observe their surroundings, are visible. Initially flounder offspring are symmetrical like other fish, but soon their bladder atrophies and one eye migrates across the head until it is adjacent to the other eye, usually to the right side. At this point they begin their life at the bottom. At night, flounder hunt for food, such as bivalves, Mesidotae entomons and other little animals. At best, flounders are over half a meter long (that is about 1.64 feet) and weigh over one kilogram (that is about 2.2 pounds). They inhabit all coastal areas, but are most frequent in the south-western archipelago of Finland.