Barred sand burrower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barred sand burrower |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Limnichthys
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| Species: |
fasciatus
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Limnichthys fasciatus, also known as the barred sand burrower, is a small and fascinating species of sandburrower fish. It's famous for its amazing eyes, which are quite similar to those of a chameleon. Because of this, some people even call it a "marine chameleon"!
This little fish is usually between 20 millimetres (0.79 in) and 40 millimetres (1.6 in) long. That's about the size of a small paperclip! You can find barred sand burrowers living in the beautiful coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific ocean.
They are clever hunters. They hide in loose sand, with only their special eyes sticking out. When small plankton swim by, the barred sand burrower quickly pops out to catch its meal!
Amazing Eyesight
One of the most unique things about the barred sand burrower is its incredible vision. Its eyes are very special. The clear front part of its eye, called the cornea, is very thin. It's only about one-seventh the thickness of the whole eye!
Inside the cornea, there's a special lens that helps the fish focus. This unique design allows the fish to see how far away things are without moving its head. This is called depth perception. Imagine being able to tell how close something is just by looking, without having to tilt your head!
The barred sand burrower's eyes also have many special cells called retinal ganglion cells. These cells help the fish see very clearly and quickly. Scientists believe that because this fish can attack its prey so fast and accurately, it must have excellent eyesight.
