Holocentridae
Yellowstriped squirrelfish
Neoniphon aurolineatus
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
SCROLL
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.
Yellowstriped squirrelfish
Carangidae
yellowtail
Seriola lalandi
Pomacanthidae
yellowtail angelfish
Apolemichthys xanthurus
Anthiadidae
Yellowtail anthias
Pseudanthias flavicauda
Pomacentridae
yellowtail clownfish
Amphiprion clarkii
Pomacentridae
yellowtail damselfish
Neopomacentrus xanthurus
Pomacentridae
Yellowtail dascyllus
Dascyllus flavicaudus
Pomacentridae
yellowtail demoiselle
Neopomacentrus azysron
Dorosomatidae
Yellowtail Sardinella
Sardinella rouxi
Carangidae
yellowtail scad
Atule mate
Pomacentridae
yellowtail sergeant
Abudefduf notatus
Alestidae
Yellowtail tetra
Alestopetersius caudalis
Labridae
yellowtail wrasse
Anampses meleagrides
Pomacentridae
Yellowtip damselfish
Stegastes pictus
Pempheridae
Yemen sweeper
Pempheris xanthomma
Cyprinidae
Yilong carp
Cyprinus yilongensis
Macrouridae
Yiwarda whiptail
Trachonurus yiwardaus
Alepocephalidae
Yokozuna Slickhead
Narcetes shonanmaruae
Cyprinidae
Zebra danio
Danio rerio
Cichlidae
Zebra tilapia
Heterotilapia buettikoferi
Kyphosidae
Zebra-perch sea chub
Kyphosus azureus
Acanthuridae
Zebrasoma veliferum
Zebrasoma velifer
Labridae
Zelinda's parrotfish
Scarus zelindae
Cyprinidae
Zhungarian ide
Leuciscus merzbacheri
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.