Lutjanidae
Arabian blue-striped snapper
Lutjanus sapphirolineatus
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
SCROLL
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.
Arabian blue-striped snapper
Chaetodontidae
Arabian butterflyfish
Chaetodon melapterus
Pomacentridae
Arabian chromis
Chromis flavaxilla
Pomacentridae
Arabian damsel
Pomacentrus arabicus
Microdesmidae
Arabian dartfish
Ptereleotris arabica
Pomacentridae
Arabian demoiselle
Neopomacentrus sindensis
Sparidae
Arabian yellowfin seabream
Acanthopagrus arabicus
Cyprinidae
Aranayaka danio
Devario memorialis
Liparidae
Arbiter Snailfish
Careproctus kamikawai
Cirrhitidae
arc-eye hawkfish
Paracirrhites arcatus
Salmonidae
Arctic grayling
Thymallus arcticus
Osmeridae
Arctic rainbow smelt
Osmerus dentex
Epinephelidae
areolate grouper
Epinephelus areolatus
Argentinidae
argentine
Argentina silus
Alosidae
Argentine menhaden
Brevoortia pectinata
Labridae
Argus wrasse
Halichoeres argus
Ariommatidae
Ariommid
Ariomma lurida
Liopropomatidae
Arrowhead soapfish
Belonoperca chabanaudi
Chaetodontidae
Asian butterflyfish
Chaetodon argentatus
Bagridae
Asian Golden Tiger Catfish
Hemibagrus variegatus
Badidae
Assam Badis
Badis assamensis
Mullidae
asymmetrical goatfish
Upeneus asymmetricus
Engraulidae
Atlantic anchoveta
Cetengraulis edentulus
Clupeidae
Atlantic herring
Clupea harengus
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.