Chaetodontidae
doublesash butterflyfish
Chaetodon marleyi
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.
doublesash butterflyfish
Carangidae
doublespotted queenfish
Scomberoides lysan
Nemipteridae
Doublewhip threadfin bream
Nemipterus nematophorus
Gobiidae
Dracula shrimp-goby
Stonogobiops dracula
Gobiidae
Drain mangrovegoby
Mugilogobius rivulus
Serranidae
Drewes' bass
Serranus drewesi
Adrianichthyidae
Duck-billed Buntingi
Adrianichthys kruyti
Epinephelidae
Dungat grouper
Epinephelus goreensis
Pempheridae
Durban sweeper
Pempheris eatoni
Pomacanthidae
dusky angelfish
Centropyge multispinis
Ephippidae
dusky batfish
Platax pinnatus
Dinematichthyidae
Dusky brotulid
Diancistrus fuscus
Pomacentridae
dusky damselfish
Stegastes adustus
Labridae
Dusky fairy-warsse
Cirrhilabrus brunneus
Epinephelidae
Dusky grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
Monacanthidae
Dusky leatherjacket
Paramonacanthus otisensis
Triportheidae
Dusky Narrow Hatchetfish
Triportheus angulatus
Labridae
dusky parrotfish
Scarus niger
Pomacentridae
Dusky seargent
Abudefduf concolor
Clinidae
Dusky snake blenny
Ophiclinus antarcticus
Soleidae
Dusky sole
Brachirus aspilos
Siganidae
dusky spinefoot
Siganus luridus
Pempheridae
Dusky sweeper
Pempheris adusta
Aploactinidae
Dusky velvetfish
Aploactis aspera
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.