Pomacanthidae
Abe's angelfish
Centropyge abei
FISH SPECIES
Flat-bodied Fish
Compare fish with laterally compressed, dorsoventrally depressed or asymmetrical body plans across habitats.
FISH ATLAS / FIELD GUIDEFlat FishIN THIS CHAPTER01 / Characteristics02 / Lifestyle03 / Species04 / Field notes
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01 / NATURAL HISTORY
Characteristics
Flattened body forms represent two distinct evolutionary paths: laterally compressed forms engineered for agility in narrow vertical spaces, and dorsoventrally depressed or asymmetrical forms specialized for living flush against the ocean floor.
- 01Laterally compressed maneuvering
- 02Dorsoventrally flattened resting
- 03Benthic sediment concealment
02 / LIFESTYLE
Lifestyle
Laterally compressed fishes like butterflyfishes and batfishes orient vertically to dart through intricate reef branches, using broad median fins to execute instantaneous, low-radius pivot turns. In stark contrast, depressed rays and asymmetrical flatfishes bury beneath sediment with only elevated eyes exposed, remaining completely motionless until striking passing prey from underneath.
OBSERVATION INDEX
- Zero-radius turns in structural cover
- Sediment concealment with raised eyes
- Undulatory pectoral propulsion on bottoms
03 / SPECIES
Representative species
Discover representative species illustrating the ecological diversity, morphologies and adaptations of this group.
Abe's angelfish
Pomacentridae
Acapulco damselfish
Stegastes acapulcoensis
Acanthuridae
Achilles tang
Acanthurus achilles
Synagropidae
Aden splitfin
Parascombrops pellucidus
Pempheridae
Aden sweeper
Pempheris kruppi
Gobiidae
adorned dwarfgoby
Eviota sigillata
Cyprinidae
Aeroplane Fish
Raiamas nigeriensis
Gobiidae
Afele's fringefin goby
Eviota afelei
Arapaimidae
African arowana
Heterotis niloticus
Schilbeidae
African Butter Catfish
Schilbe mystus
Cyprinidae
African carp
Labeo coubie
Pomacentridae
African demoiselle
Neopomacentrus fuliginosus
Hemiramphidae
African halfbeak
Hyporhamphus picarti
Notopteridae
African knifefish
Xenomystus nigri
Polycentridae
African leaffish
Polycentropsis abbreviata
Labridae
African longfin fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus africanus
Monodactylidae
African moony
Monodactylus sebae
Carangidae
African pompano
Alectis ciliaris
Serranidae
African reef bass
Serranus inexpectatus
Pomacentridae
African sergeant
Abudefduf hoefleri
Drepaneidae
African sicklefish
Drepane africana
Pempheridae
African sweeper
Pempheris connelli
Alosidae
Alabama shad
Alosa alabamae
Holocentridae
Alama’s soldierfish : fisheries
Ostichthys alamai
04 / FIELD NOTES
A closer look
What is the evolutionary difference between a ray and a flounder?
A ray is a cartilaginous fish flattened from top to bottom (dorsoventrally depressed) with eyes on top and gill slits on the underside; a flounder is a bony fish that lies on its side, whose eye migrates during larval development to make the body asymmetrical.
Why do disk-shaped fish like angelfish and discus have tall bodies?
A laterally compressed disc shape provides high vertical stability and exceptional turning agility, allowing fish to twist into narrow vertical crevices and maneuver between tangled roots or coral branches without losing control.