Pomacentridae
Colombo damsel
Pomacentrus proteus
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.
Colombo damsel
Plesiopidae
comet
Calloplesiops altivelis
Engraulidae
Commerson's anchovy
Stolephorus commersonnii
Antennariidae
Commerson's frogfish
Antennarius commerson
Siganidae
Common foxface
Siganus vulpinus
Neosebastidae
Common gurnard perch
Neosebastes scorpaenoides
Engraulidae
Common hairfin anchovy
Setipinna tenuifilis
Cichlidae
Common Natron tilapia
Oreochromis alcalicus
Labridae
common parrotfish
Scarus psittacus
Leiognathidae
Common ponyfish
Leiognathus equula
Gerreidae
Common silver belly
Gerres subfasciatus
Gerreidae
common silver-biddy
Gerres oyena
Rajidae
Common skate
Dipturus batis
Siluridae
Concealed dorsal-fin catfish
Micronema moorei
Drepaneidae
Concertina fish
Drepane longimana
Pomacanthidae
Conspicuous angelfish
Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus
Epinephelidae
Convict grouper
Hyporthodus septemfasciatus
Acanthuridae
convict surgeonfish
Acanthurus triostegus
Apogonidae
Cook's cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus cookii
Chaetodontidae
copperband butterflyfish
Chelmon rostratus
Pomacentridae
Coquito sergeant
Nexilosus latifrons
Pomacentridae
Coral demoiselle
Neopomacentrus nemurus
Epinephelidae
Coral grouper
Epinephelus corallicola
Epinephelidae
Coral Grouper
Epinephelus geoffroyi
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.