Labridae
tubelip wrasse
Labrichthys unilineatus
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.
tubelip wrasse
Antennariidae
tuberculated frogfish
Antennatus tuberosus
Apogonidae
Tubifer cardinalfish
Siphamia tubifer
Trichiuridae
Tucker's frostfish
Benthodesmus tuckeri
Pleuronectidae
Tudor's flounder
Ammotretis lituratus
Badidae
Tuivai perch
Badis tuivaiei
Cyprinidae
Tumba
Barbodes tumba
Gobiidae
Turan's goby
Ponticola turani
Muraenidae
turkey moray
Gymnothorax meleagris
Cichlidae
Turquoise Hap
Protomelas marginatus
Pempheridae
Tuticorn sweeper
Pempheris bineeshi
Grammistidae
twice-spotted soapfish
Rypticus nigripinnis
Chaetodontidae
Twin butterflyfish
Prognathodes geminus
Apogonidae
Twinbar cardinalfish
Apogonichthyoides sialis
Apogonidae
Twinspot cardinalfish
Taeniamia biguttata
Pomacentridae
Twinspot chromis
Azurina elerae
Pomacentridae
twinspot damselfish
Chrysiptera biocellata
Gobiidae
Two-lined coralgoby
Gobiodon bilineatus
Bythitidae
Two-spined slopebrotula
Tuamotuichthys bispinosus
Anthiadidae
two-spot basslet
Pseudanthias bimaculatus
Mullidae
Two-tone goatfish
Upeneus guttatus
Pomacentridae
twobar anemonefish
Amphiprion bicinctus
Apogonidae
Twobelt cardinal
Apogonichthyoides taeniatus
Leiognathidae
Twoblotch ponyfish
Nuchequula blochii
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.