Pomacentridae
Azure damselfish
Altrichthys azurelineatus
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.
Azure damselfish
Pomacentridae
Azure demoiselle
Chrysiptera hemicyanea
Badidae
Badis
Badis badis
Engraulidae
Baelama anchovy
Thryssa baelama
Pomacentridae
Baensch's damsel
Pomacentrus baenschi
Engraulidae
Bagan anchovy
Stolephorus baganensis
Dorosomatidae
Bahia sprat
Rhinosardinia bahiensis
Gobiidae
Baldhead siltgoby
Amblygobius calvatus
Pomacentridae
Baldwin's major
Stegastes baldwini
Pseudochromidae
Bali eelblenny
Haliophis aethiopus
Dorosomatidae
Bali sardinella
Sardinella lemuru
Pomacanthidae
Ballina angelfish
Chaetodontoplus ballinae
Caesionidae
banana fusilier
Pterocaesio pisang
Mormyridae
Bandama mormyrid
Mormyrus subundulatus
Pomacanthidae
Banded angelfish
Apolemichthys arcuatus
Chaetodontidae
banded butterflyfish
Chaetodon striatus
Ophidiidae
Banded cusk eel
Raneya brasiliensis
Pomacentridae
Banded damsel
Dischistodus fasciatus
Pomacentridae
Banded damselfish
Abudefduf abdominalis
Batrachoididae
Banded frogfish
Halophryne diemensis
Sisoridae
Banded Goonch
Bagarius rutilus
Osphronemidae
Banded gourami
Trichogaster fasciata
Epinephelidae
Banded grouper
Epinephelus amblycephalus
Pristigasteridae
Banded ilisha
Ilisha striatula
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.