Local marine biologist Alan Deidun has shared a striking snap of a wide-eyed flounder (Bothus podas) spotted on the sands of Ramla l-Ħamra in Gozo. Captioning the photo ‘There are many chameleons in the sea… and the wide-eyed flounder is one of them!’, Deidun highlighted the fish’s incredible camouflage abilities.

Native to the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the wide-eyed flounder is a demersal fish, meaning it lives close to the seabed, blending perfectly with sandy or muddy sea floors. While it can grow up to 45cm, most usually measure around 13cm in length.

Fun fact: flounders aren’t born with both eyes on the same side of their head! As juveniles, one eye actually migrates across during growth, leaving both on the ‘upward-facing’ side – the one that stays visible while the fish lies flat, camouflaged on the ocean floor. That’s why the Maltese call it Barbun Għajnejh Imbegħda, meaning ‘the flounder with the far-apart eyes’!

Their diet consists of tiny fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates they ambush from their sandy hiding spots. Reproduction usually happens between May and August, when they’re most active across Mediterranean waters.

Have you ever seen one?