Name: Four-eyes
Scientific Name: Anableps anableps (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Anablepidae
Group: Bony fish
Class: Fish
Size: 26-50 cm.
Four-eyes are found in both fresh and brackwish waters. Despite what the name suggests, these fish actually have only two eyes. However, each eye is a double structure, one of them projected above the water line. Thanks to a remarkable structural adaptation in their cornea and pupils, these fish can actually see under and above the water at the same time (!). This is one of the reasons why this species is studies with great detail by scientists worldwide, especially eye doctors and alike. Interestingly, males and females have orientated sex organs, meaning they either lean right or left. For this reason, ‘left-handed' males can only mate with ‘right-handed' females and vice-versa.
Photo by:
aquaworld.netfirms.com
Mangrove forest
