Turbot
Turbot
Psetta maxima
Max. size: 1 metre
Geographical distribution:
Mediterranean, Atlantic, English Channel, North Sea, Baltic Sea.
Biology:
The turbot is a benthic fish, which is to say that it is adapted to life on the sea bed. This flat fish has a remarkable ability to mimic its surroundings and can, in fact, imitate the colour of the sea floor.
The fish’s shape is a spectacular adaptation to its environment: when the egg hatches, a small planktonic larva only a few millimetres long emerges. At this time the young fish looks like any other fish. Its appearance gradually changes: the fish lies on the bottom and its body flattens, while one of its eyes migrates to what will become its back. The eyes are on the same side of the body allowing the fish to see better when it is buried in the sand.
At the Grand Aquarium in Saint-Malo, several aquariums with different ground colours demonstrate how this fish blends in totally with its environment.
See if you can find them!
