Pempheridae
Mascarene sweeper
Pempheris bruggemanni
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.
Mascarene sweeper
Pomacanthidae
Masked angelfish
Genicanthus personatus
Chaetodontidae
masked bannerfish
Heniochus monoceros
Siganidae
Masked spinefoot
Siganus puellus
Pomacentridae
Mauritian anemonefish
Amphiprion chrysogaster
Pomacentridae
Mauritian damsel
Plectroglyphidodon randalli
Dorosomatidae
Mauritian Sardinella
Sardinella jussieu
Scorpaenidae
McCosker’s no-line scorpionfish
Phenacoscorpius mccoskeri
Pomacentridae
McCulloch's scalyfin
Parma mccullochi
Dinematichthyidae
Mcgrouther's coralbrotula
Diancistrus mcgroutheri
Anthiadidae
McGrouther’s perchlet
Plectranthias mcgroutheri
Gobiidae
Meity’s pygmygoby
Trimma meityae
Gerreidae
Melbourne Silver Biddy
Parequula melbournensis
Chaetodontidae
melon butterflyfish
Chaetodon trifasciatus
Bagridae
Menoda catfish
Hemibagrus menoda
Hapalogenyidae
Mergui velvetchin
Hapalogenys merguiensis
Macrouridae
Merret's whiptail
Nezumia merretti
Malakichthyidae
Metalic Seabass
Malakichthys barbatus
Pomacentridae
Metallic demoiselle
Neopomacentrus metallicus
Epinephelidae
meteor perch
Liopropoma susumi
Anthiadidae
Mica's anthias
Pseudanthias mica
Pomacentridae
Micronesian damselfish
Pomacentrus micronesicus
Labridae
Micronesian wrasse
Labropsis micronesica
Apogonidae
Microspot cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus microspilos
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.