Gobiidae
Ceram coralgoby
Gobiodon ceramensis
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
SCROLL
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.
Ceram coralgoby
Dorosomatidae
Chacunda gizzard shad
Anodontostoma chacunda
Pomacanthidae
Chaetodontoplus meridithi
Chaetodontoplus meredithi
Pomacentridae
Chagos anemonefish
Amphiprion chagosensis
Apogonidae
Chagos Cardinalfish
Foa winterbottomi
Ophidiidae
Chain Cusk-eel
Porogadus catena
Esocidae
chain pickerel
Esox niger
Labridae
Chameleon parrotfish
Scarus chameleon
Trichiuridae
channel scabbardfish
Evoxymetopon taeniatus
Moridae
charcoal codling
Physiculus nematopus
Labridae
checkerboard wrasse
Halichoeres hortulanus
Pseudochromidae
Checkered dottyback
Cypho zaps
Labridae
Cheeklined wrasse
Oxycheilinus digramma
Scorpaenidae
Cheekspot scorpionfish
Scorpaenodes evides
Labridae
Cheekspot wrasse
Halichoeres melasmapomus
Engraulidae
Chefoo thryssa
Thrissina chefuensis
Pseudochromidae
Cherry dottyback
Pholidochromis cerasina
Pomacanthidae
cherubfish
Centropyge argi
Chaetodontidae
Chevron butterflyfish
Chaetodon trifascialis
Monacanthidae
Chinaman-leatherjacket
Nelusetta ayraud
Pomacentridae
Chinese demoiselle
Neopomacentrus bankieri
Dorosomatidae
Chinese gizzard shad
Clupanodon thrissa
Aulostomidae
Chinese trumpetfish
Aulostomus chinensis
Microdesmidae
Chinese zebra goby
Ptereleotris zebra
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.