Dab, Pleuronectes limanda
1803
Meet the Dab, a flatfish that looks like it's been elegantly flattened by the ocean currents. Edward Donovan, an Irish naturalist and artist, captured this creature in 1803 for his series on British fishes. Notice how both eyes are crammed onto the right side of its head? That's a classic flatfish trick—as they grow, one eye actually migrates across their skull so they can lie flat on the ocean floor and stare up at predators. It's a perfect blend of scientific accuracy and artistic charm from the early 19th century.
Views: 4