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| fishes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > fishes > Order Pleuronectiformes > Family Soleidae |
| Peacock
sole Pardachirus pavoninus Family Soleidae updated Aug 08 Where seen? This large pretty flat fish is sometimes seen on our Northern shores, on sandy areas near seagrasses. Features: To about 25cm, those seen about 15cm. Eyes on right side. Body oblong. No pectoral fins. Tail fin separated from the dorsal and anal fins. It has a pattern of circles that resemble eyes (a pale spot with a dark centre). This pattern of eyes possibly gives rise to its common name because the tail of a peacock also has a pattern of eyes. Toxic peacocks! The fish produces a mucus from toxin glands along the base of the dorsal and anal fin rays around the entire outline of the body. According to FishBase, this mucus appears to have shark-repellent properties. The more obvious marking on this fish may serve to warn of its unpleasant nature. The Moses sole (Pardachirus mamoratus) found in the Red Sea produces an astringent, frothy, soap-like poison, called pardaxin, that was found to repel sharks. However, the toxin proved difficult to package and store and could not be used to protect humans. What does it eat? Lying buried in the sand, it preys on bottom dwelling animals especially crustaceans. |
 Beting Bronok, Aug 05  Tail fin joined to the dorsal and anal fins only at the base. |
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 Distinctive pattern of 'eyes'. |
 Eyes on the right side, this particular fish seems to be missing one eye. |
Peacock soles on Singapore shores
 Chek Jawa, Jul 05 |
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Periplus Editions. 292 pp.|
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