Salmonidae
Chinook salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
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.
Chinook salmon
Labridae
chiseltooth wrasse
Pseudodax moluccanus
Labridae
Choat's wrasse
Macropharyngodon choati
Acanthuridae
chocolate surgeonfish
Acanthurus pyroferus
Pomacentridae
Chocolate-dip Chromis
Pycnochromis hanui
Pomacentridae
Chocolatedip chromis
Pycnochromis dimidiatus
Gobiidae
Chornaya tubenose goby
Proterorhinus tataricus
Plesiopidae
Christmas longfin
Steeneichthys nativitatus
Labridae
Christmas wrasse
Thalassoma trilobatum
Pomacentridae
Chrysiptera unimaculata
Similiparma hermani
Lophiidae
Chu's Rounded Angler
Sladenia zhui
Labridae
chub
Tautoga onitis
Cyprinidae
Chubbyhead barb
Enteromius anoplus
Pempheridae
Chumbe sweeper
Pempheris smithorum
Gobiidae
Cinta Goby
Tigrigobius redimiculus
Labridae
Circle-cheek wrasse
Halichoeres miniatus
Apogonidae
Circular cardinalfish
Neamia articycla
Gobiidae
citron goby
Gobiodon citrinus
Labridae
Claire's fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus claire
Pomacanthidae
Clarion angelfish
Holacanthus clarionensis
Pomacentridae
Clarion damselfish
Stegastes redemptus
Labridae
Clark's Wrasse
Pteragogus clarkae
Labridae
Cleaner wrasse
Labropsis xanthura
Stevardiidae
Clear-finned dragonfin tetra
Pseudocorynopoma stanleyi
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.