Pomacanthidae
Blackear angelfish
Centropyge hotumatua
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.
Blackear angelfish
Cynodontidae
Blackear Payara
Cynodon meionactis
Pomacanthidae
Blackedged angelfish
Genicanthus watanabei
Siganidae
Blackeye rabbitfish
Siganus puelloides
Salmonidae
Blackfin cisco
Coregonus nigripinnis
Chaetodontidae
Blackfin coralfish
Chelmon muelleri
Pomacentridae
Blackfin Damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon melanopterus
Pomacentridae
Blackfin damselfish
Pomacentrus magniseptus
Microdesmidae
blackfin dartfish
Ptereleotris evides
Epinephelidae
Blackfin grouper
Cephalopholis nigripinnis
Labridae
Blackfin hogfish
Bodianus loxozonus
Sisoridae
Blackfin sisorid-catfish
Gagata dolichonema
Pempheridae
Blackfin sweeper
Pempheris peza
Polynemidae
blackfin threadfin
Polydactylus nigripinnis
Priacanthidae
Blackfringe Bigeye
Pristigenys refulgens
Polynemidae
Blackhand paradise fish
Polynemus melanochir
Gobiidae
Blackhead shrimpgoby
Amblyeleotris melanocephala
Serrasalmidae
Blackline myleus
Myloplus nigrolineatus
Monacanthidae
Blacklined filefish
Pervagor nigrolineatus
Pomacentridae
blacklip damsel
Pomacentrus pikei
Pseudochromidae
Blackmargin dottyback
Pseudochromis tapeinosoma
Pomacentridae
Blackmargined damsel
Pomacentrus nigromarginatus
Synagropidae
Blackmouth splitfin
Synagrops japonicus
Lethrinidae
Blacknape large-eye bream
Gymnocranius satoi
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.