Cichlidae
Kambuzi
Protomelas kirkii
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.
Kambuzi
Anthiadidae
Kami's perchlet
Plectranthias kamii
Engraulidae
Kammal thryssa
Thryssa kammalensis
Pristigasteridae
Kampen's ilisha
Ilisha kampeni
Badidae
Kanabo Badis
Badis kanabos
Cichlidae
Kariba tilapia
Oreochromis mortimeri
Pseudochromidae
Karimunjawa dottyback
Pseudochromis ransonneti
Cichlidae
Karonga tilapia
Oreochromis karongae
Cyprinidae
karst dace
Telestes karsticus
Cichlidae
Kasawala
Oreochromis squamipinnis
Labridae
Kato's Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus katoi
Liparidae
Kawari-inki-uo
Paraliparis anomalus
Mugilidae
Keeled mullet
Planiliza carinata
Epigonidae
Keeling deepwater cardinalfish
Epigonus tuberculatus
Dorosomatidae
Kelee shad
Hilsa kelee
Pomacentridae
Kenyan chromis
Chromis nigroanalis
Alosidae
Kerch shad
Alosa immaculata
Pomacentridae
Kermadec scalyfin
Parma kermadecensis
Pomacanthidae
Keyhole angelfish
Centropyge tibicen
Badidae
Khwae Badis
Badis khwae
Rivulidae
Killifish
Austrolebias queguay
Pomacanthidae
king angelfish
Holacanthus passer
Scorpaenidae
King scorpionfish
Scorpaenopsis gigas
Sparidae
king soldierbream
Argyrops spinifer
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.