Crenuchidae
Green dwarf tetra
Odontocharacidium aphanes
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.
Green dwarf tetra
Cichlidae
Green happy
Sargochromis codringtonii
Pempheridae
Green sweeper
Pempheris viridis
Acestrorhynchidae
Green Tetra
Heterocharax macrolepis
Pleuronectidae
Greenback flounder
Rhombosolea tapirina
Caristiidae
Greenland manefish
Caristius fasciatus
Labridae
Greensnout parrotfish
Scarus spinus
Pomacentridae
grey chromis
Chromis axillaris
Stromateidae
Grey pomfret
Pampus cinereus
Kyphosidae
grey sea chub
Kyphosus bigibbus
Malakichthyidae
Grey Seabass
Malakichthys griseus
Synanceiidae
grey stingfish
Minous monodactylus
Pomacentridae
Greyback damsel
Chrysiptera caesifrons
Pomacanthidae
Griffis angelfish
Apolemichthys griffisi
Gobiidae
Griffiths' pygmygoby
Trimma griffithsi
Labridae
Griffiths' razorfish
Iniistius griffithsi
Synanceiidae
Groeneveld’s stingfish
Minous groeneveldi
Haemulidae
grunt
Diagramma pictum
Batrachoididae
Grunting toadfish
Allenbatrachus grunniens
Chaetodontidae
Guam barred butterflyfish
Roa uejoi
Scorpaenidae
Guam scorpionfish
Scorpaenodes guamensis
Pristigasteridae
Guiana longfin herring
Odontognathus mucronatus
Sciaenidae
Guinea croaker
Pseudotolithus epipercus
Pomacanthidae
Guinean angelfish
Holacanthus africanus
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.