
Righteye flounders
Righteye flounders lie on their left side with both eyes on the right of the head, the mirror image of the lefteye group. The two species here sit at opposite ends of the flatfish range. The cockatoo flounder is a small, delicate fish whose first dorsal rays stand up as a crest and are held clear of the sand. The Indian halibut is the opposite: thick-bodied, up to 64 cm, with spiny rays in front of the dorsal fin and a large mouth for taking fish at night. It is also the most primitive flatfish of the three groups - its eye migration stops short, leaving the second eye on the edge of the head rather than beside the first, and individuals can end up facing either way.
- flattened body, oval to diamond-shaped
- both eyes located on right side of head
- resting flat on sandy or silty bottom
- cryptic, camouflaged body patterns
2 species in Righteye flounders
Other flattened groups
Similar silhouette underwater - worth a look if this was not your animal.
Last Update: August 3, 2026





