Alosidae
Atlantic menhaden
Brevoortia tyrannus
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.
Atlantic menhaden
Howellidae
Atlantic pelagic basslet
Howella atlantica
Dorosomatidae
Atlantic piquitinga
Lile piquitinga
Engraulidae
Atlantic sabretooth anchovy
Lycengraulis grossidens
Salmonidae
Atlantic whitefish
Coregonus huntsmani
Labridae
Atlantic Wrasse
Symphodus caeruleus
Chaetodontidae
Atoll butterflyfish
Chaetodon mertensii
Anthiadidae
Aurora anthias
Pseudanthias calloura
Sphyraenidae
Australian barracuda
Sphyraena novaehollandiae
Pomacentridae
Australian clownfish
Amphiprion rubrocinctus
Pomacentridae
Australian damsel
Pomacentrus australis
Trichiuridae
Australian Hairtail
Trichiurus australis
Arripidae
Australian herring
Arripis georgiana
Labridae
Australian keel-head wrasse
Iniistius jacksonensis
Paralepididae
Australian robust barracudina
Lestidium nigrirostrum
Arripidae
Australian salmon
Arripis trutta
Scorpaenidae
Australian sawcheek scorpionfish
Brachypterois curvispina
Brachionichthyidae
Australian spotted handfish
Brachionichthys australis
Dorosomatidae
Australian spotted herring
Herklotsichthys lippa
Gobiidae
Avicennia snubnose goby
Pseudogobius avicennia
Labridae
Axil spot wrasse
Halichoeres podostigma
Labridae
axilspot hogfish
Bodianus axillaris
Tetraodontidae
Aziz's toby
Canthigaster aziz
Ehiravidae
Azov sea sprat
Clupeonella cultriventris
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.