Stevardiidae
Latin Astyanax
Bryconamericus poi
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.
Latin Astyanax
Holocentridae
Lattice soldierfish
Myripristis violacea
Chaetodontidae
Latticed butterflyfish
Chaetodon rafflesii
Nandidae
Leaf fish
Nandus andrewi
Bothidae
Leaf flounder
Psettina iijimae
Scombridae
Leaping bonito
Cybiosarda elegans
Salmonidae
least cisco
Coregonus sardinella
Epinephelidae
leather bass
Dermatolepis dermatolepis
Acropomatidae
Lecornet’s lanternbelly
Acropoma lecorneti
Apogonidae
Leis Cardinalfish
Foa leisi
Pomacentridae
Lemon Chromis
Chromis flavapicis
Pomacentridae
Lemon damsel
Pomacentrus moluccensis
Labridae
lemon-striped pygmy hogfish
Bodianus bennetti
Haemulidae
lemonfish
Plectorhinchus flavomaculatus
Pomacanthidae
Lemonpeel angelfish
Centropyge flavissima
Ophidiidae
leopard cusk-eel
Lepophidium pardale
Hemiscylliidae
Leopard Epaulette Shark
Hemiscyllium michaeli
Antennariidae
leopard frogfish
Antennarius pardalis
Cirrhitidae
Leopard Hawkfish
Amblycirrhitus unimacula
Mastacembelidae
Lesser spiny eel
Macrognathus aculeatus
Tetrarogidae
Lesser-scaled cockatoo waspfsh
Ablabys pauciporus
Gobiidae
Lifehouse dwarfgoby
Trimmatom pharus
Mormyridae
Limpopo Bulldog Fish
Marcusenius krameri
Engraulidae
Lindman's grenadier anchovy
Coilia lindmani
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.