Apogonidae
Doederlein's cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus doederleini
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.
Doederlein's cardinalfish
Salmonidae
dog salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Epinephelidae
dogtooth grouper
Epinephelus caninus
Pristigasteridae
Dogtooth herring
Chirocentrodon bleekerianus
Characidae
Dollar Tetra
Tetragonopterus argenteus
Salmonidae
dolly varden
Salvelinus malma
Coryphaenidae
dolphin
Coryphaena hippurus
Pomacentridae
domino
Dascyllus trimaculatus
Chirocentridae
dorab wolf-herring
Chirocentrus dorab
Gobiidae
Dorsalspot shrimpgoby
Vanderhorstia dorsomacula
Epinephelidae
dot-dash grouper
Epinephelus poecilonotus
Chaetodontidae
Dotted butterflyfish
Chaetodon semeion
Dorosomatidae
dotted gizzard shad
Konosirus punctatus
Epinephelidae
dotted grouper
Epinephelus epistictus
Labridae
dotted parrotfish
Calotomus viridescens
Pempheridae
Dotted sweeper
Parapriacanthus punctulatus
Labridae
Dotted wrasse
Cirrhilabrus punctatus
Pseudochromidae
Dottyback
Pictichromis dinar
Cichlidae
Double Stripe
Haplochromis thereuterion
Caesionidae
double-lined fusilier
Pterocaesio digramma
Pseudochromidae
Double-striped dottyback
Pseudochromis bitaeniatus
Acanthuridae
Doubleband surgeonfish
Acanthurus tennentii
Sparidae
doublebar bream
Acanthopagrus bifasciatus
Pomacentridae
doublebar chromis
Chromis opercularis
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.