Osphronemidae
Giant gourami
Osphronemus goramy
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.
Giant gourami
Epinephelidae
Giant grouper
Epinephelus lanceolatus
Pangasiidae
giant pangasius
Pangasius sanitwongsei
Gobiidae
Giant pygmygoby
Trimma gigantum
Osphronemidae
Giant red tail gourami
Osphronemus laticlavius
Carangidae
giant trevally
Caranx ignobilis
Ophichthidae
Gigantic Worm Eel
Pylorobranchus hearstorum
Apogonidae
Gilbert's cardinalfish
Zoramia gilberti
Labridae
Gilded tuskfish
Choerodon aurulentus
Apogonidae
Gillspot cardinalfish
Neamia notula
Pomacentridae
Girdled scalyfin
Parma unifasciata
Dorosomatidae
gizzard shad
Dorosoma cepedianum
Kyphosidae
Gladius sea chub
Kyphosus gladius
Priacanthidae
glasseye
Heteropriacanthus cruentatus
Macrouridae
glasshead grenadier
Hymenocephalus italicus
Apogonidae
Glassy cardinalfish
Cercamia eremia
Apogonidae
Glassy cardinalfish
Rhabdamia spilota
Labridae
globehead parrotfish
Scarus globiceps
Acropomatidae
glow-belly
Acropoma japonicum
Aploactinidae
Goatee velvetfish
Pseudopataecus carnatobarbatus
Brotulidae
goatsbeard brotula
Brotula multibarbata
Apogonidae
Gobbleguts
Ostorhinchus rueppellii
Priacanthidae
goggle-eye
Priacanthus hamrur
Dussumieriidae
Golani's Red-eye Round Herring
Etrumeus golanii
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.