Labridae
Bluestreak cleaner wrasse
Labroides dimidiatus
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.
Bluestreak cleaner wrasse
Pomacentridae
Bluestreak damselfish
Neoglyphidodon oxyodon
Pomacanthidae
Bluestriped angelfish
Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis
Chaetodontidae
Bluestriped butterflyfish
Chaetodon fremblii
Kyphosidae
Bluestriped Chub
Kyphosus ocyurus
Pomacentridae
blunt snout gregory
Stegastes lividus
Pomacentridae
Blunt snout gregory
Stegastes punctatus
Labridae
bluntheaded wrasse
Thalassoma amblycephalum
Dorosomatidae
Bonga shad
Ethmalosa fimbriata
Carangidae
bonito
Seriola rivoliana
Dorosomatidae
Bony bream
Nematalosa erebi
Alepocephalidae
Bordello slickhead
Rouleina guentheri
Ehiravidae
Borneo river sprat
Clupeoides borneensis
Rhamphichthyidae
Bow knifefish
Rhamphichthys drepanium
Labridae
Bower's parrotfish
Chlorurus bowersi
Pomacentridae
Bowtie damselfish
Neoglyphidodon melas
Apogonidae
Bracelet cardinalfish
Nectamia viria
Pomacentridae
Brackish damsel
Pomacentrus taeniometopon
Gobiidae
Branded goby
Chaeturichthys stigmatias
Sebastidae
Brassblotched rockfish
Sebastes pachycephalus
Kyphosidae
brassy chub
Kyphosus vaigiensis
Carangidae
brassy trevally
Caranx papuensis
Pomacentridae
Brazilian damsel
Stegastes fuscus
Alosidae
Brazilian menhaden
Brevoortia aurea
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.