Espantos #100

Face of flatfish: KLUDGED!

on flatfish

"Flat fish inhabit the sea floor, but for many this was not the original habitat. When their ancestors moved to the sea floor, they adapted by changing their orientation from swimming “upright” to on their sides. Given their existing bone structure, this was the only way to become “flat”, but it rendered one eye useless. So, by a further adaptation many of today’s species of flatfish migrate one eye to the opposite side of their body during development."

on kludges

"an improvement upon a highly complex system that solves an inefficiency but in a piecemeal fashion and without addressing the deep-rooted underlying problem."

All this, and much more, here. Enjoy!