Sparidae
Yellowfin seabream
Acanthopagrus latus
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.
Yellowfin seabream
Lutjanidae
Yellowfin snapper
Lutjanus xanthopinnis
Gobiidae
Yellowfin snubnose goby
Pseudogobius fulvicaudus
Holocentridae
Yellowfin soldierfish
Myripristis chryseres
Acanthuridae
yellowfin surgeonfish
Acanthurus xanthopterus
Pempheridae
Yellowfin sweeper
Pempheris bexillon
Pomacanthidae
Yellowhead angelfish
Centropyge joculator
Chaetodontidae
yellowhead butterflyfish
Chaetodon xanthocephalus
Pempheridae
Yellowhead sweeper
Parapriacanthus argenteus
Anthiadidae
Yellowlined anthias
Pseudanthias luzonensis
Pseudochromidae
Yellowlip dottyback
Pseudochromis aurulentus
Gobiidae
Yellownose prawn-goby
Stonogobiops xanthorhinicus
Callanthiidae
Yellowspot groppo
Grammatonotus xanthostigma
Scyliorhinidae
Yellowspotted catshark
Scyliorhinus capensis
Bothidae
Yellowspotted Flounder
Parabothus kiensis
Epinephelidae
Yellowspotted grouper
Epinephelus timorensis
Leiognathidae
Yellowspotted ponyfish
Nuchequula flavaxilla
Carangidae
Yellowspotted trevally
Turrum fulvoguttatum
Labridae
Yellowspotted wrasse
Macropharyngodon negrosensis
Caesionidae
Yellowstripe fusilier
Pterocaesio flavifasciata
Carangidae
yellowstripe scad
Selaroides leptolepis
Symphysanodontidae
Yellowstripe slopefish
Symphysanodon katayamai
Apogonidae
Yellowstriped cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cyanosoma
Serranidae
Yellowstriped fairy basslet
Mirolabrichthys tuka
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.