Engraulidae
Dusky-hairfin anchovy
Setipinna melanochir
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.
Dusky-hairfin anchovy
Apogonidae
Dusky-tailed cardinalfish
Taeniamia macroptera
Pomacentridae
duskytail chromis
Chromis pelloura
Epinephelidae
Duskytail grouper
Epinephelus bleekeri
Engraulidae
Dussumier's thryssa
Thryssa dussumieri
Gobiidae
Dwarf atom goby
Trimmatom nanus
Bothidae
Dwarf lefteye flounder
Arnoglossus tenuis
Soleidae
Dwarf sole
Aseraggodes xenicus
Holocentridae
Dwarf squirrelfish
Sargocentron iota
Pempheridae
D’Arros sweeper
Parapriacanthus darros
Bathylagidae
Eared blacksmelt
Lipolagus ochotensis
Plesiopidae
Earspot longfin
Plesiops auritus
Clinidae
Earspot snakeblenny
Ophiclinops hutchinsi
Polynemidae
East Asian fourfinger threadfin
Eleutheronema rhadinum
Labridae
East Atlantic peacock wrasse
Symphodus tinca
Holocentridae
East indian soldierfish
Myripristis trachyacron
Gobiidae
East Indies siltgoby
Amblygobius cheraphilus
Kyphosidae
East-Australian stripey
Microcanthus joyceae
Dussumieriidae
East-coast Roundherring
Etrumeus wongratanai
Pomacentridae
Easter damselfish
Chrysiptera rapanui
Chaetodontidae
Easter Island butterflyfish
Chaetodon litus
Gobiesocidae
Eastern Atlantic cleaner clingfish
Diplecogaster tonstricula
Pomacentridae
Eastern barhead damselfish
Neoglyphidodon mitratus
Cyprinidae
Eastern Cape Redfin
Pseudobarbus afer
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.