Latidae
Nile perch
Lates niloticus
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.
Nile perch
Cichlidae
Nile tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus
Bagridae
Nilgiri mystus
Hemibagrus punctatus
Pomacentridae
Norfolk Chromis
Chromis norfolkensis
Scorpaenidae
Noronha’s scorpionfish
Pteroidichthys noronhai
Alepisauridae
North Pacific daggertooth
Anotopterus nikparini
Trichiuridae
North Pacific frostfish
Benthodesmus pacificus
Holocentridae
North Pacific squirrelfish
Sargocentron spinosissimum
Arripidae
Northern kahawai
Arripis xylabion
Melanotaeniidae
Northern Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia solata
Bathylagidae
northern smoothtongue
Leuroglossus schmidti
Agonidae
northern spearnose poacher
Agonopsis vulsa
Cichlidae
Northern Tanganyika Clown
Eretmodus marksmithi
Labridae
Northern tubelip
Labropsis manabei
Pomacentridae
Northern yellow-spotted Chromis
Chromis yamakawai
Cyprinidae
Notched mud carp
Henicorhynchus entmema
Aplodactylidae
Notchheaded marblefish
Aplodactylus etheridgii
Scyliorhinidae
nursehound
Scyliorhinus stellaris
Gobiidae
Nymph goby
Feia nympha
Regalecidae
Oarfifsh
Regalecus russellii
Anthiadidae
Obama anthias
Tosanoides obama
Cichlidae
Obama’s Teleogramma
Teleogramma obamaorum
Epinephelidae
oblique-banded grouper
Epinephelus radiatus
Engraulidae
Oblique-jaw thryssa
Thryssa purava
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.