Tripterygiidae
Enneapterygius senoui
Enneapterygius senoui
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.
Enneapterygius senoui
Cyprinidae
Enteromius leonensis
Enteromius leonensis
Cyprinidae
Enteromius macinensis
Enteromius macinensis
Cyprinidae
Enteromius walshae
Enteromius walshae
Epigonidae
Epigonus chilensis
Epigonus chilensis
Acestrorhamphidae
Erythrocharax altipinnis
Erythrocharax altipinnis
Euclichthyidae
Euclichthys robertsi
Euclichthys robertsi
Distichodontidae
Eugnathichthys macroterolepis
Eugnathichthys macroterolepis
Trichiuridae
Evoxymetopon moricheni
Evoxymetopon moricheni
Apogonidae
Foa nivosa
Foa nivosa
Moridae
Gadella brocca
Gadella brocca
Sisoridae
Gagata melanopterus
Gagata melanopterus
Sisoridae
Gagata sexualis
Gagata sexualis
Gaidropsaridae
Gaidropsarus mauritanicus
Gaidropsarus mauritanicus
Cyprinidae
Garra fasciacauda
Garra fasciacauda
Cyprinidae
Garra kalpangi
Garra kalpangi
Cichlidae
Geophagus multiocellus
Geophagus multiocellus
Cichlidae
Geophagus rufomarginatus
Geophagus rufomarginatus
Cichlidae
Geophagus santosi
Geophagus santosi
Gobiidae
Gnatholepis caudimaculata
Gnatholepis caudimaculata
Apogonidae
Gymnapogon melanogaster
Gymnapogon melanogaster
Cichlidae
Gymnogeophagus jaryi
Gymnogeophagus jaryi
Cichlidae
Gymnogeophagus lipokarenos
Gymnogeophagus lipokarenos
Cichlidae
Gymnogeophagus pseudolabiatus
Gymnogeophagus pseudolabiatus
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.