Pempheridae
Madagascar sweeper
Pempheris hollemani
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.
Madagascar sweeper
Mullidae
Madras Goatfish
Upeneus madras
Anthiadidae
Maekawa’s perchlet : fisheries
Plectranthias maekawa
Cichlidae
Magadi tilapia
Oreochromis grahami
Pseudochromidae
Magenta dottyback
Pictichromis porphyrea
Siganidae
Magnificent rabbitfish
Siganus magnificus
Chaetodontidae
Mailed butterflyfish
Chaetodon reticulatus
Sciaenidae
Majan croaker
Johnius majan
Gobiidae
Majestic shrimpgoby
Vanderhorstia nobilis
Cyprinidae
Malabar black-backed barb
Puntius nigronotus
Epinephelidae
Malabar grouper
Epinephelus malabaricus
Engraulidae
Malabar thryssa
Thryssa malabarica
Carangidae
Malabar trevally
Platycaranx malabaricus
Cichlidae
Malagarasi tilapia
Oreochromis malagarasi
Pomacentridae
Malayan chromis
Pycnochromis flavipectoralis
Pseudochromidae
Malayan eel blenny
Congrogadus malayanus
Gerreidae
Malayan silver-biddy
Gerres silaceus
Pomacentridae
Maldive anemonefish
Amphiprion nigripes
Pempheridae
Maldives sweeper
Pempheris hadra
Anthiadidae
Maldivian perchlet
Pelontrus raki
Syngnathidae
Manaia pygmy pipehorse
Cylix tupareomanaia
Caristiidae
manefish
Caristius macropus
Pomacanthidae
Mango angelfish
Centropyge shepardi
Apogonidae
Mangrove cardinalfish
Apogon ceramensis
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.