Syngnathidae
Harasti’s pipefish
Stigmatopora harastii
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.
Harasti’s pipefish
Engraulidae
Hardenberg's anchovy
Stolephorus baweanensis
Engraulidae
Hardenberg's anchovy
Stolephorus insularis
Cyprinidae
Harlequin rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Opistognathidae
Harlequin smiler
Opistognathus eximius
Haemulidae
Harlequin sweetlips
Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides
Gobiidae
Harlot pygmygoby
Trimma fucatum
Haemulidae
Harry Hotlips
Plectorhinchus gibbosus
Apogonidae
Hartzfeld's cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus hartzfeldii
Pristigasteridae
hatchet herring
Ilisha fuerthii
Chaetodontidae
Hawaiian butterflyfish
Chaetodon tinkeri
Pomacentridae
Hawaiian chromis
Chromis ovalis
Kyphosidae
Hawaiian chub
Kyphosus hawaiiensis
Pomacentridae
Hawaiian dascyllus
Dascyllus albisella
Gobiidae
Hawaiian Eyebar Goby
Gnatholepis knighti
Kuhliidae
Hawaiian flagtail
Kuhlia sandvicensis
Chaetodontidae
Hawaiian gold-barred butterflyfish
Roa excelsa
Epinephelidae
Hawaiian grouper
Hyporthodus quernus
Atherinidae
Hawaiian Islands silverside
Atherinomorus insularum
Anthiadidae
Hawaiian Longfin Anthias
Compsanthias hawaiiensis
Dussumieriidae
Hawaiian Round Herring
Etrumeus makiawa
Apogonidae
Hawaiian ruby cardinalfish
Apogon erythrinus
Anthiadidae
Hawkfish anthias
Serranocirrhitus latus
Apogonidae
Hayashi's cardinalfish
Pseudamia hayashii
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.