California Flounder: A Flat Fish With a Strange Face

The California flounder is one of the ocean's great oddities: a flat fish that lies on its side on the seabed, with both eyes migrated onto its upper side. Sand-colored and often half-buried, it's a camouflage champion. Here's how to spot one snorkeling near Jacó, plus five fun facts.

California Flounder · Paralichthys californicus

How to spot the california flounder near Jacó

Scan flat, sandy patches near the reef's edge for the faint outline of a fish-shaped patch of sand. The flounder lies flat and buries itself until only its eyes and a thin outline show. A little puff of sand as it resettles, or those two eyes poking up, are often the only giveaways.

5 fun facts about the california flounder

• Both eyes on one side. It starts life like a normal fish with an eye on each side, but as it grows one eye migrates around the head so both end up on its upper side.
• It lies on its side. Instead of swimming upright, it rests flat on the seabed on one side of its body, the blind underside facing down.
• A sandy quick-change. It can adjust its color and pattern to match the seafloor, and buries in the sand so only its eyes peek out.
• An ambush from below. Hidden in the sand, it waits for small fish and shrimp to pass, then lunges up to grab them.
• A big flatfish. The California flounder is one of the larger flatfish of our coast, able to grow well over a foot long.

The california flounder is just one of many characters down there. See the whole cast in our Snorkel Jaco fish directory, or read real guest photos and reviews on the Snorkel Jaco reviews.