California halibut

The California halibut or California flounder (Paralichthys californicus) is a large-tooth flounder native to the waters of the Pacific Coast of North America from the Quillayute River in Washington to Magdalena Bay in Baja California Sur.

This is a demersal fish, living primarily in the lower water column as adults. They inhabit near shore regions and are free swimming. This is an unusual fish in that one eye migrates around from one side to the other as it grows from an upright fry or baby fish into an adult fish that lies on its side. This results in the adult fish having two eyes on the up-side as it lies on the ocean floor. Most flatfish are generally either right-eyed or left-eyed dominant, but the California halibut is unusual in having a roughly even number of each type.

Like other flatfish, the halibut hides under sand or loose gravel, camouflaging into the sea floor. They are aggressive predators, using this camouflage to effectively ambush prey such as fishes and invertebrates.