Ephippidae
longfin baitfish
Platax teira
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.
longfin baitfish
Chaetodontidae
Longfin bannerfish
Heniochus acuminatus
Leptobramidae
Longfin beach salmon
Leptobrama pectoralis
Carangidae
Longfin crevalle jack
Caranx fischeri
Pomacentridae
longfin damselfish
Stegastes diencaeus
Pseudochromidae
Longfin dottyback
Assiculus punctatus
Pseudochromidae
Longfin dottyback
Manonichthys polynemus
Dorosomatidae
longfin gizzard shad
Dorosoma anale
Epinephelidae
longfin grouper
Epinephelus quoyanus
Gerreidae
Longfin mojarra
Pentaprion longimanus
Carangidae
Longfin pompano
Trachinotus goreensis
Osmeridae
longfin smelt
Spirinchus thaleichthys
Anthiadidae
Longfin threadtail Anthias
Tosana longipinnis
Cichlidae
Longfin tilapia
Oreochromis macrochir
Carangidae
Longfin trevally
Atropus armatus
Aploactinidae
Longfin velvetfish
Pseudopataecus taenianotus
Haemulidae
Longhead grunt
Pomadasys auritus
Cyprinidae
Longjaw Minnow
Ericymba amplamala
Engraulidae
longjaw thryssa
Thryssa setirostris
Chaetodontidae
Longnose butterflyfish
Forcipiger flavissimus
Chaetodontidae
longnose butterflyfish
Forcipiger longirostris
Carangidae
Longnose trevally
Platycaranx chrysophrys
Chaetodontidae
longsnout butterflyfish
Prognathodes aculeatus
Pleuronectidae
Longsnout flounder
Ammotretis rostratus
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.