Sparidae
Yellowback seabream
Evynnis tumifrons
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.
Yellowback seabream
Labridae
yellowback tubelip
Labropsis xanthonota
Labridae
Yellowband parrotfish
Scarus schlegeli
Labridae
Yellowband wrasse
Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus
Haemulidae
Yellowbanded sweetlips
Plectorhinchus lineatus
Pomacanthidae
yellowbar angelfish
Pomacanthus maculosus
Labridae
Yellowbar parrot
Calotomus zonarchus
Labridae
Yellowbarred parrotfish
Scarus dimidiatus
Labridae
Yellowblotch razorfish
Iniistius aneitensis
Pomacentridae
Yellowbreasted damsel
Pomacentrus xanthosternus
Labridae
yellowbreasted wrasse
Anampses twistii
Epinephelidae
Yellowedge grouper
Hyporthodus flavolimbatus
Monacanthidae
Yelloweye filefish
Pervagor alternans
Rivulidae
Yelloweye Pearlfish
Austrolebias ephemerus
Pomacanthidae
Yellowface angelfish
Pomacanthus xanthometopon
Pomacanthidae
Yellowfin angelfish
Centropyge flavipectoralis
Pomacentridae
Yellowfin chromis
Chromis xanthopterygia
Pomacentridae
yellowfin damsel
Amblyglyphidodon flavilatus
Pomacentridae
Yellowfin damselfish
Chrysiptera flavipinnis
Alosidae
yellowfin menhaden
Brevoortia smithi
Gerreidae
Yellowfin mojarra
Gerres simillimus
Labridae
Yellowfin parrotfish
Scarus flavipectoralis
Pristigasteridae
Yellowfin river pellona
Pellona flavipinnis
Sparidae
Yellowfin sea bream
Dentex abei
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.