Dorosomatidae
Burmese river shad
Gudusia variegata
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.
Burmese river shad
Akysidae
Burmese stream catfish
Akysis pictus
Pomacentridae
Burt’s damselfish
Chrysiptera burtjonesi
Ambassidae
Buru glass perchlet
Ambassis buruensis
Tathicarpidae
Butler's frogfish
Tathicarpus butleri
Schilbeidae
Butterfish
Schilbe brevianalis
Cichlidae
Butterfly peacock bass
Cichla ocellaris
Pomacentridae
Caerulean damsel
Pomacentrus caeruleus
Cyprinidae
Cambodian Logsucker
Garra cambodgiensis
Epinephelidae
camouflage grouper
Epinephelus polyphekadion
Serranidae
Campeche Bank Hamlet
Hypoplectrus espinosai
Pomacentridae
Canary damsel
Similiparma lurida
Pomacentridae
Canary demoiselle
Chrysiptera galba
Apogonidae
Candystripe cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus endekataenia
Stomiidae
Cape snaggletooth
Neonesthes capensis
Pomacentridae
Cape Verde gregory
Stegastes imbricatus
Epinephelidae
Cape Verdes basslet
Liopropoma emanueli
Epinephelidae
Captain fine
Epinephelus albomarginatus
Serrasalmidae
Carabinani Pacu
Myloplus lucienae
Apogonidae
Cardinal fish
Apogon imberbis
Gobiidae
Cardinal goby
Kelloggella cardinalis
Apogonidae
Cardinalfish
Apogonichthyoides niger
Labridae
Cargados Wrasse
Pteragogus variabilis
Pristigasteridae
Caribbean longfin herring
Odontognathus compressus
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.