Pomacentridae
deep blue chromis
Chromis abyssus
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.
deep blue chromis
Leiognathidae
Deep pugnose ponyfish
Deveximentum ruconius
Pomacentridae
Deep reef chromis
Pycnochromis delta
Paralepididae
Deep water pike smelt
Lestidium nudum
Chaetodontidae
Deep-blackfin butterflyfish
Roa rumsfeldi
Gerreidae
Deep-bodied mojarra
Gerres erythrourus
Antigoniidae
deepbody boarfish
Antigonia capros
Dorosomatidae
deepbody sardinella
Sardinella brachysoma
Apogonidae
Deepreef cardinalfish
Apogonichthyoides erdmanni
Scorpaenidae
Deepreef scorpionfish
Scorpaenodes bathycolus
Pomacentridae
Deepsea chromis
Chromis abyssicola
Glaucosomatidae
Deepsea jewfish
Glaucosoma buergeri
Apogonidae
Deepwater cardinalfish
Amioides polyacanthus
Gobiidae
Deepwater goby
Asterropteryx profunda
Holocentridae
deepwater soldier
Ostichthys kaianus
Epinephelidae
deer hamlet
Epinephelus morio
Gobiidae
Delicate pygmygoby
Trimma habrum
Opistognathidae
Dendtric jawfish
Opistognathus dendriticus
Denticipitidae
denticle herring
Denticeps clupeoides
Pleuronectidae
Derwent flounder
Taratretis derwentensis
Labridae
Dhofar parrotfish
Scarus zufar
Pseudochromidae
Diadem dottyback
Pictichromis diadema
Labridae
Diana's hogfish
Bodianus diana
Cyprinidae
Divine barb
Puntius sanctus
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.