Cyprinidae
Curmuca Barb
Hypselobarbus curmuca
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.
Curmuca Barb
Pempheridae
curved sweeper
Pempheris poeyi
Labridae
cutribbon wrasse
Stethojulis interrupta
Badidae
Da Ying Dario
Dario dayingensis
Cyprinidae
Dabie mountains acrossocheilus
Acrossocheilus dabieensis
Bramidae
dagger pomfret
Taractes rubescens
Alepisauridae
daggertooth
Anotopterus pharao
Moridae
dainty mora
Halargyreus johnsonii
Labridae
Daisy parrotfish
Chlorurus sordidus
Pomacentridae
damselfish
Chromis chromis
Holocentridae
Daniela's soldierfish
Ostichthys daniela
Gobiidae
Dappled reefgoby
Priolepis sticta
Gobiidae
Dark coral goby
Paragobiodon melanosoma
Macrouridae
Dark smiling whiptail
Ventrifossa sazonovi
Caesionidae
dark-banded fusilier
Pterocaesio tile
Stromateidae
Dark-Capped Harvestfish
Peprilus xanthurus
Labridae
Dark-capped Parrotfish
Scarus oviceps
Pomacentridae
Dark-fin chromis
Pycnochromis atripes
Pomacentridae
Dark-margin Chromis
Chromis hangganan
Pomacentridae
Darkbar Chromis
Chromis torquata
Epinephelidae
darkfin hind
Cephalopholis urodeta
Apogonidae
Darktail cardinalfish
Apogon seminigracaudus
Labridae
Darktail parrotfish
Scarus fuscocaudalis
Opistognathidae
Darwin jawfish
Opistognathus darwiniensis
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.