Pomacentridae
Yellow-axil chromis
Chromis xanthochira
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.
Yellow-axil chromis
Pomacentridae
Yellow-axil damselfish
Pomacentrus flavoaxillaris
Serranidae
Yellow-banded perchlet
Chelidoperca flavolineata
Pomacentridae
Yellow-belly damsel
Plectroglyphidodon flaviventris
Pseudochromidae
Yellow-breasted dottyback
Pseudochromis coccinicauda
Pomacentridae
Yellow-brown chromis
Chromis xouthos
Labridae
Yellow-brown wrasse
Thalassoma lutescens
Chaetodontidae
Yellow-crowned butterflyfish
Chaetodon flavocoronatus
Chaetodontidae
Yellow-dotted butterflyfish
Chaetodon selene
Muraenidae
yellow-edged moray
Gymnothorax flavimarginatus
Mugilidae
Yellow-eye mullet
Aldrichetta forsteri
Lutjanidae
Yellow-lined snapper
Lutjanus rufolineatus
Pomacentridae
yellow-speckled chromis
Chromis alpha
Serranidae
Yellow-spotted anthias
Pyronotanthias flavoguttatus
Pomacentridae
Yellow-spotted chromis
Chromis flavomaculata
Pseudochromidae
Yellow-spotted dottyback
Pseudochromis flavopunctatus
Epinephelidae
Yellow-spotted golden bass
Liopropoma olneyi
Serranidae
Yellow-spotted perchlet
Chelidoperca flavimacula
Sphyraenidae
Yellow-striped barracuda
Sphyraena stellata
Haemulidae
Yellow-striped sweetlips
Plectorhinchus chrysotaenia
Labridae
Yellow-tail parrotfish
Scarus hypselopterus
Anthiadidae
Yellowback anthias
Pseudanthias evansi
Caesionidae
yellowback fusilier
Caesio xanthonota
Sparidae
Yellowback sea-bream
Dentex hypselosomus
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.