Siganidae
Vermiculated spinefoot
Siganus vermiculatus
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.
Vermiculated spinefoot
Holocentridae
Vermilion soldierfish
Ostichthys sandix
Labridae
Vibranium fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus wakanda
Cichlidae
Victoria tilapia
Oreochromis variabilis
Pomacentridae
Victorian scalyfin
Parma victoriae
Holocentridae
violet squirrelfish
Sargocentron violaceum
Trichiuridae
Vityaz' frostfish
Benthodesmus vityazi
Acheilognathidae
Volcano Bitterling
Sinorhodeus microlepis
Latidae
Waigeo seaperch
Psammoperca waigiensis
Latidae
Waigieu sea perch
Psammoperca datnioides
Percidae
walleye
Sander vitreus
Pomacentridae
Ward's damsel
Pomacentrus wardi
Antennariidae
warty frogfish
Antennarius maculatus
Gobiidae
Wasp pygmygoby
Trimma flavatrum
Aploactinidae
Wasp-spine velvetfish
Acanthosphex leurynnis
Epinephelidae
Wavy-lined grouper
Epinephelus undulosus
Monacanthidae
Waxy filefish
Cantherhines cerinus
Gobiidae
Wayag shrimpgoby
Vanderhorstia wayag
Pristolepididae
Wayanad leaffish
Pristolepis pentacantha
Pomacentridae
Weber's chromis
Chromis weberi
Apogonidae
Wedgehead siphonfish
Siphamia cuneiceps
Pomacentridae
Wedgespot damsel
Pomacentrus cuneatus
Scorpaenidae
weedy scorpionfish
Rhinopias frondosa
Pristigasteridae
West African ilisha
Ilisha africana
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.