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Flounders & Soles
Flounders & Soles
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Soles and flounders are bottom-dwelling fish found occasionally close to reefs. Generally well camouflaged, some soles have bright yellow spots down their sides, possibly mimicing poisonous flatworms. When the Cockatoo Flounder is threatened, it spreads out a fan of brilliant white fin-rays, resembling the sticky, poisonous, defense tubes of some sea cucumbers.
Their conservation statuse is unknown.
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Soles
A number of species live close to and in reefs, and new species are being found on a regular basis. Some have stripes across their backs, others, marginal rows of bright yellow splotches. Some suggest that this is mimicry of toxic flatworms, but it could be simply be disruptive colouration. Peacock Soles are known to secrete powerful toxins, so the colourful soles may also secrete toxins and the patterns could just be real warning colouration.
Crested Flounders
There are two species of the relatively small Crested Flounders. The best known is the Cockatoo Flounder illustrated here. It is almost invisible against the bottom, but if disturbed, it spreads out a set of long bright white dorsal rays in the same way a cockatoo raises its' head plume. This makes the flounder look larger, and may also look like the expelled cuvierian tubules of some sea cucumbers. These tubules are very sticky and toxic, so the resemblance may afford some protection to this fish.
Its' life history is poorly known, but certainly in North Sulawesi it may not be seen for serveral years, and one year it suddenly appears in numbers.
Sand & Lefteye Flounders
All are well-camouflaged hunters of small fish and crustaceans.
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Soles
Soles
A number of species live close to and in reefs, and new species are being found on a regular basis. Some have stripes across their backs, others, marginal rows of bright yellow splotches. Some suggest that this is mimicry of toxic flatworms, but it could be simply be disruptive colouration. Peacock Soles are known to secrete powerful toxins, so the colourful soles may also secrete toxins and the patterns could just be real warning colouration.
Crested Flounders
Crested Flounders
There are two species of the relatively small Crested Flounders. The best known is the Cockatoo Flounder illustrated here. It is almost invisible against the bottom, but if disturbed, it spreads out a set of long bright white dorsal rays in the same way a cockatoo raises its' head plume. This makes the flounder look larger, and may also look like the expelled cuvierian tubules of some sea cucumbers. These tubules are very sticky and toxic, so the resemblance may afford some protection to this fish.
Its' life history is poorly known, but certainly in North Sulawesi it may not be seen for serveral years, and one year it suddenly appears in numbers.
Sand Flounders
Sand & Lefteye Flounders
All are well-camouflaged hunters of small fish and crustaceans.
