Dorosomatidae
White sardine
Escualosa thoracata
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.
White sardine
Dorosomatidae
white sardinella
Sardinella albella
Gempylidae
White snake mackerel
Thyrsitops lepidopoides
Pomacentridae
White-axil damselfish
Pomacentrus albiaxillaris
Epinephelidae
White-dotted grouper
Epinephelus polystigma
Pomacentridae
White-ear scalyfin
Parma microlepis
Acanthuridae
White-freckled surgeonfish
Acanthurus maculiceps
Apogonidae
White-jawed cardinalfish
Pseudamia amblyuroptera
Chaetodontidae
White-spine butterfyfsh
Roa haraguchiae
Pomacentridae
White-spotted chromis
Chromis albomaculata
Siganidae
white-spotted spinefoot
Siganus canaliculatus
Labridae
White-spotted wrasse
Anampses melanurus
Epinephelidae
white-streaked grouper
Epinephelus ongus
Labridae
whitebanded sharpnose wrasse
Wetmorella albofasciata
Labridae
Whitebarred wrasse
Cheilinus quinquecinctus
Pomacentridae
whitebelly damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster
Lutjanidae
Whitebelly snapper
Lutjanus octolineatus
Pomacentridae
Whitebonnet anemonefish
Amphiprion leucokranos
Gobiidae
Whitecap goby
Lotilia graciliosa
Nemipteridae
whitecheek monocle bream
Scolopsis vosmeri
Acanthuridae
Whitechin surgeonfish
Acanthurus albimento
Cyprinodontidae
Whitefin Pupfish
Cyprinodon albivelis
Chirocentridae
whitefin wolf-herring
Chirocentrus nudus
Pomacentridae
Whitesnout anemonefish
Amphiprion mccullochi
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.