Dorosomatidae
fringescale sardinella
Sardinella fimbriata
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.
fringescale sardinella
Epinephelidae
Frostback rockcod
Epinephelus bilobatus
Apogonidae
Frostfin cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus hoevenii
Trichiuridae
frostfish
Benthodesmus elongatus
Trichiuridae
frostfish
Benthodesmus simonyi
Holocentridae
Furrowed soldierfish
Myripristis aulacodes
Pomacentridae
fusilier damselfish
Lepidozygus tapeinosoma
Monacanthidae
Fuzzy Filefish
Paramonacanthus nematophorus
Cyprinidae
Gal oya blue laubuka
Laubuka hema
Cyprinidae
Gal oya striped rasbora
Rasbora adisi
Dorosomatidae
Galapagos thread herring
Opisthonema berlangai
Cyprinidae
Gamtoos redfin
Pseudobarbus swartzi
Trichiuridae
Ganges hairtail
Trichiurus gangeticus
Dorosomatidae
Ganges river gizzard shad
Gonialosa manmina
Engraulidae
Gangetic hairfin anchovy
Setipinna phasa
Chaetodontidae
Gardner's butterflyfish
Chaetodon gardineri
Pomacentridae
garibaldi
Hypsypops rubicundus
Apogonidae
gelatinous cardinalfish
Pseudamia gelatinosa
Labridae
geographic wrasse
Anampses geographicus
Mormyridae
Ghanean Bulldog
Marcusenius ussheri
Apogonidae
Ghost cardinalfish
Nectamia fusca
Gobiidae
Ghost goby
Pleurosicya muscarum
Aploactinidae
Ghost velvetfish
Cocotropus larvatus
Pomacentridae
giant damselfish
Microspathodon dorsalis
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.