Pomacentridae
One-spot puller
Chromis hypsilepis
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
SCROLL
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.
One-spot puller
Anthiadidae
One-stripe anthias
Pseudanthias fasciatus
Caesionidae
One-stripe fusilier
Pterocaesio tessellata
Acanthuridae
oneknife unicornfish
Naso thynnoides
Distichodontidae
Oneline tetra
Nannaethiops unitaeniatus
Pomacentridae
Onuma's Chromis
Chromis onumai
Pomacentridae
Orange clownfish
Amphiprion percula
Pseudochromidae
Orange dottyback
Pseudochromis luteus
Myrocongridae
Orange eel
Myroconger nigrodentatus
Chaetodontidae
Orange margin butterflyfish
Prognathodes basabei
Pomacentridae
Orange spotted damselfish
Pomacentrus spilotoceps
Pomacentridae
Orange-fin anemonefish
Amphiprion chrysopterus
Gobiidae
Orange-red pygmygoby
Trimma okinawae
Acanthuridae
Orange-socket surgeonfish
Acanthurus auranticavus
Epinephelidae
orange-spotted grouper
Epinephelus coioides
Labridae
Orange-striped wrasse
Cirrhilabrus earlei
Chaetodontidae
orange-tailed coralfish
Coradion calendula
Pomacanthidae
orangeback angelfish
Centropyge acanthops
Anthiadidae
Orangebar anthias
Pseudanthias engelhardi
Pomacanthidae
Orangeface angelfish
Chaetodontoplus chrysocephalus
Leiognathidae
Orangefin ponyfish
Photopectoralis bindus
Apogonidae
Orangelined Cardinalfish
Taeniamia fucata
Engraulidae
Orangemouth anchovy
Thrissina vitrirostris
Acanthuridae
orangespine unicornfish
Naso lituratus
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.