Scorpaenidae
Longsnout weedy scorpionfish
Pteroidichthys acutus
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.
Longsnout weedy scorpionfish
Apogonidae
Longspine cardinalfish
Apogon doryssa
Epinephelidae
longspine grouper
Epinephelus longispinis
Dorosomatidae
Longtail shad
Tenualosa macrura
Epinephelidae
Longtooth grouper
Epinephelus bruneus
Chaetodontidae
Lord Howe Island butterflyfish
Amphichaetodon howensis
Anthiadidae
Lori's anthias
Pseudanthias lori
Dorosomatidae
Losera fangtooth pellonuline
Odaxothrissa losera
Bramidae
lowfin pomfret
Brama dussumieri
Epigonidae
Loyalty deepwater cardinalfish
Epigonus lifouensis
Pomacentridae
Lubbock's chromis
Chromis lubbocki
Apogonidae
luminous cardinalfish
Rhabdamia gracilis
Apogonidae
Luminous cardinalfish
Rhabdamia mentalis
Steindachneriidae
luminous hake
Steindachneria argentea
Alepocephalidae
Luminous slickhead
Aulastomatomorpha phospherops
Caesionidae
lunar fusilier
Caesio lunaris
Anthiadidae
Lunate goldie
Pseudanthias lunulatus
Luvaridae
luvar
Luvarus imperialis
Microdesmidae
Lyre-tail dart-goby
Ptereleotris monoptera
Pseudochromidae
Lyretail dottyback
Pseudochromis steenei
Labridae
lyretail hogfish
Bodianus anthioides
Melanotaeniidae
Macculloch's rainbowfish
Melanotaenia maccullochi
Elopidae
machete
Elops affinis
Pomacentridae
Madagascar anemonefish
Amphiprion latifasciatus
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.