Anableps dowei

The Pacific four-eyed fish (Anableps dowei) is a species of four-eyed fish native to the coastal waters on the Pacific side of southern Mexico to Nicaragua.^[3] This fish is gregarious and inhabits mangrove swamps, tidal mudflats, and other coastal brackish ecosystems. During low tide, they will crawl onto shore to eat algae and other organic matter. This species has female biased sexual dimorphism, with males growing to 22 cm (8.7 in) TL while females can grow up to 34 cm (13.4 in) TL.^[2] The male also has a prominent gonopodium used to impregnate females during mating. As with other members of Anablepinae, this species is livebearing and has left or right leaning genitals to prevent inbreeding.

Anableps dowei
Four-eyed Fish, Anableps dovii Gill. Tehuantepee, Mexico
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cyprinodontiformes
Family:	Anablepidae
Genus:	Anableps
Species:	A. dowei
Binomial name
Anableps dowei (T. N. Gill, 1861)
Synonyms[2]
Anableps dowi T. N. Gill, 1861 Anableps dovii Gill, 1861

The name "four-eyed fish" comes from how the eyes of the fish are split into two lobes horizontally, each with its own pupil and vision. This allows the fish to see above and below the water at the same time.^[4].Aiding in predator detection and prey location. Additionally, the fish has specialized muscles enabling each eye to adjust its focus independently, further enhancing its ability to adapt to both aerial and aquatic environments.^[5]