Gobiidae
Fishnet pygmygoby
Trimma agrena
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.
Fishnet pygmygoby
Gobiidae
Five-lined coral goby
Gobiodon quinquestrigatus
Epinephelidae
Fivebar grouper
Epinephelus kupangensis
Labridae
Fivestripe wrasse
Thalassoma quinquevittatum
Epinephelidae
flag cabrilla
Epinephelus labriformis
Ambassidae
Flag-tailed glass perchlet
Ambassis miops
Gerreidae
flagfin mojarra
Eucinostomus melanopterus
Microdesmidae
Flagtail dartfish
Ptereleotris uroditaenia
Pomacanthidae
Flame angel
Centropyge loriculus
Anthiadidae
Flame anthias
Pseudanthias ignitus
Epinephelidae
Flame Basslet
Liopropoma dorsoluteum
Apogonidae
Flame cardinalfish
Apogon talboti
Apogonidae
Flame cardinalfish
Fowleria flammea
Pomacanthidae
Flameback angelfish
Centropyge aurantonotus
Paralichthyidae
Flatfish
Pseudorhombus megalops
Dorosomatidae
flatiron herring
Harengula thrissina
Pseudochromidae
fleckfin dottyback
Pseudoplesiops wassi
Pleuronectidae
flet
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
Labridae
floral wrasse
Cheilinus chlorourus
Serranidae
Florida hamlet
Hypoplectrus floridae
Mullidae
Floros goatfish
Upeneus floros
Apogonidae
Flower Cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus fleurieu
Pleuronectidae
fluke
Platichthys flesus
Gobiidae
Folded ghostgoby
Pleurosicya prognatha
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.