The Galapagos are famous for a lot of things. Impressive volcanic formations. Beautifully colored sand beaches. Stunning scenery. And if you look hard enough, some pretty good surf. But more than anything, the Galapagos are known for a vast array of flora and fauna that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.
A chain of islands located in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos are home to some rare and unique wildlife species. This video documents an adult peacock flounder swimming through the crystalline waters of the islands.
Upon first glance, the fish may not look that bizarre. But flounders have quite the back story. When they’re born, they look like traditional fish, but as they mature, their right eye migrates to the left. Flounders are a species of flat fish and they swim on their side, typically along the sand or rubble the makes up the ocean floor. They are incredible camouflagers and use their color changing abilities to their advantage while hunting. Typically, they use short gliding motions to propel themselves forward unless being pursued by a predator.
It is rare to see flounders swimming in open water, which is why this video was such a rare capture.
