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Project Noah Nature School
Pardachirus pavoninus
Also known as Pacific Sole. It hides just below the surface of the sand and uses its eyes as a periscope (they can rotate 180 degrees. They feed on small fish, invertebrates and worms. This sole has toxic glands at the base of its dorsal and anal fins.
Found singly in protected lagoons and around reefs on sandy bottoms, at depths of 3 to 40m. Widespread in the Indo-West Pacific region.
I spotted this fish at a depth of less than 20 feet. I think it wasn't fully grown yet as it was only about 6 or 7 inches long. You can actually touch this fish if you're careful about it. When I spotted it, it was buried in the sand, with just the eyes and part of its tail showing. I brushed the sand off its backside very slowly and gently so I could take photos of it.
Spotted on Jan 30, 2012
Submitted on Feb 1, 2012
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