Dorosomatidae
Japanese sardinella
Sardinella zunasi
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.
Japanese sardinella
Scorpaenidae
Japanese shortspined scorpionfish
Scorpaena brevispina
Gerreidae
Japanese silver-biddy
Gerres japonicus
Holocentridae
Japanese soldierfish
Ostichthys japonicus
Plotosidae
Japanese Striped Eel Catfish
Plotosus japonicus
Aulopidae
Japanese thread-sail fish
Hime japonica
Aploactinidae
Japanese Velvetfish
Paraploactis kagoshimensis
Serranidae
Jarocho hamlet
Hypoplectrus atlahua
Pomacentridae
Java damsel
Pomacentrus javanicus
Nemipteridae
Javanese monocle bream
Scolopsis japonica
Haemulidae
javelin grunter
Pomadasys kaakan
Apogonidae
Jebb's siphonfish
Siphamia jebbi
Gobiidae
Jeff’s snubnose goby
Pseudogobius jeffi
Clupeidae
Jenyns's sprat
Ramnogaster arcuata
Pomacentridae
Jewel damselfish
Stegastes lacrymatus
Myctophidae
jewel lanternfish
Lampanyctus crocodilus
Pomacentridae
jewelfish
Microspathodon chrysurus
Cichlidae
Jipe tilapia
Oreochromis jipe
Pempheridae
Jissah sweeper
Pempheris darvelli
Pomacentridae
Jordan's damsel
Teixeirichthys jordani
Pomacentridae
Jubauna chromis
Chromis jubauna
Cyprinidae
Jullien's Golden Carp
Probarbus jullieni
Stevardiidae
Jumping tetra
Hemibrycon tridens
Crenuchidae
Kalunga Darter
Characidium kalunga
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.