Acanthuridae
lined bristletooth
Ctenochaetus striatus
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.
lined bristletooth
Chaetodontidae
lined butterflyfish
Chaetodon lineolatus
Pomacentridae
Lined chromis
Pycnochromis lineatus
Ophidiidae
Lined cusk
Sirembo amaculata
Microdesmidae
lined dartfish
Ptereleotris grammica
Acanthuridae
lined surgeonfish
Acanthurus lineatus
Muraenidae
lipspot moray
Gymnothorax chilospilus
Percichthyidae
Little pygmy perch
Nannoperca pygmaea
Melanotaeniidae
Little rainbowfish
Melanotaenia wilsoni
Rajidae
Little skate
Leucoraja erinaceus
Siganidae
Little spinefoot
Siganus spinus
Apogonidae
Little tailband cardinalfish
Apogon caudicinctus
Engraulidae
Littlefin anchovy
Papuengraulis micropinna
Gobiidae
Lizard cabillus
Cabillus lacertops
Gobiidae
Loki whip-goby
Bryaninops loki
Hapalogenyidae
Long barbeled grunter
Hapalogenys sennin
Cyprinidae
Long fin Kerala barb
Puntius dolichopterus
Labridae
Long green wrasse
Pseudojuloides elongatus
Paralepididae
Long light-organ barracudina
Lestidium longilucifer
Gempylidae
Long-finned escolar
Rexea antefurcata
Polynemidae
long-limb threadfin
Polydactylus longipes
Ambassidae
Long-spined glass perchlet
Ambassis interrupta
Liparidae
Long-tailed snailfsh
Paraliparis ruficometes
Chlopsidae
Long-toothed false moray
Boehlkenchelys longidentata
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.