The eye
 

Pictures and text:  Rudolf  Svensen

Plaice ( Pleuronectes platessa ) is one of the most common flatfishes in Norwegian waters .
They start out as ordinary ”fish larvas ” but as they grow, something strange happens. They become asymmetrical and one eye migrate to join the one on the upper surface.
Plaices may grow to a size of 100 cm and become 7 kilos. It is also known that they can reach the age of 50 years.
The Plaice on the picture was a huge female ready to breed. I found her on a late night dive in January 2001. She trusted her camouflage and did not move even when I was swimming around taking close-ups of her eyes.