Sciaenidae
Caribbean stardrum
Stellifer macallisteri
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.
Caribbean stardrum
Pomacentridae
Carlson's damsel
Neoglyphidodon carlsoni
Cyprinidae
carp
Cyprinus carpio
Cyprinidae
Carp
Labeobarbus parawaldroni
Pseudochromidae
Carpet eel-blenny
Congrogadus subducens
Characidae
Carvalho's Tetra
Tetragonopterus carvalhoi
Alosidae
Caspian Anadromous Shad
Alosa kessleri
Alosidae
Caspian Marine Shad
Alosa braschnikowi
Alosidae
Caspian shad
Alosa caspia
Sciaenidae
Cassava croaker
Pseudotolithus senegalensis
Dorosomatidae
Castelnau's herring
Herklotsichthys castelnaui
Epinephelidae
catface grouper
Epinephelus andersoni
Sisoridae
Catfish
Gagata youssoufi
Apogonidae
Cat’s eye cardinalfish
Siphamia arnazae
Scorpaenidae
Causse’s scorpionfish
Pteroidichthys caussei
Anthiadidae
Cave anthias
Pseudanthias tequila
Cirrhitidae
Cave hawkfish
Cirrhitichthys guichenoti
Berycidae
Cave Nannygai
Centroberyx druzhinini
Gobiidae
Cayman cleaner goby
Elacatinus cayman
Labridae
Celebes wrasse
Oxycheilinus celebicus
Pomacentridae
Cenderawasih damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon flavopurpureus
Pseudochromidae
Cenderawasih dottyback
Pictichromis caitlinae
Chaetodontidae
Cenderawasih longnose butterflyfish
Forcipiger wanai
Pomacanthidae
Centropyge venustus
Centropyge venusta
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.