Description
Alien #7 is a flamboyantly-finned larval Spotfin Flounder (Cyclopsetta fimbriata). Body length ~1cm.
While in their larval stage, larval flounder resemble most other fish in the sense that they have one eye on each side of their head. It’s not until they settle and metamorphosize that one eye migrates to the “top” side, as they begin life in the sand.
Several distantly-related fish have conspicuous fin “flags” in their larval stage. One would think advertising with such flags in a fish-eat-fish world of open-ocean blackness is a good way to get eaten! Also, the added hydrodynamic drag seems disadvantageous. Add to that the caloric expenditure and upkeep of such flashy fins…it just seems like such a bad idea! But Mother Nature always has a reason, and currently, the best theory is that these appendages resemble the nematocyst-laden tentacles of a stinging siphonophore, which are quite common predators of the open ocean.
I love how we’re able to see the entire skeletal system, as well as the digestive tract and the swim bladder (the silvery gas pocket above it’s gut). Also unique to this photo, is that I’ve caught the flounder in mid-yawn! Many predatory fish stretch their jaws every so often, and catching this behavior is somewhat of an obsession for me!
For printing, we offer the Aliens as squares on either aluminum or canvas, but they are customizable into other shapes if your design plan requires it. You can purchase this luxury wall art online in standard sizes, but if you’d like to discuss a custom crop or size, please contact one of our design consultants at the art gallery. Perhaps our most popular arrangement for Aliens is a grouping of three of our 15″ x 15″ aluminums, but I encourage you to discuss the size & shape of your project’s wall with one of our design consultants, who will help you develop an amazing contemporary art installation that blurs the lines between natural beauty and scientific fascination. Alien 7 is available up to a maximum size of 72″.