They originate in lowlands in southern Mexico to Honduras and northern South America, but can also be found on the island of Trinidad located to the east of Venezuela.

In early development, the four-eyed fish’s frontal bone expands dorsally allowing the eyes to be positioned on top of their head and appear bulging.

Each eye has two pupils and two corneas filtering light onto one lens, refracting onto separate hemiretinas and processed through one optic disc.

[2] The lens of the eye also changes in thickness top to bottom to compensate for the difference in the refractive indices of air versus water.

Their diet mostly consists of terrestrial insects which are readily available at the surface, however they may consume other foods such as other invertebrates, diatoms, and small fishes.