Stomiidae
Pacific astronesthid fish
Astronesthes lucifer
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.
Pacific astronesthid fish
Pomacentridae
Pacific bronze chromis
Chromis pacifica
Pomacentridae
Pacific bronze Chromis
Pycnochromis pacifica
Gempylidae
Pacific Domine
Epinnula rex
Chaetodontidae
Pacific doublesaddle butterflyfish
Chaetodon ulietensis
Bramidae
Pacific fanfish
Pteraclis aesticola
Dorosomatidae
Pacific Gizzard Shad
Dorosoma smithi
Clupeidae
Pacific herring
Clupea pallasii
Pristigasteridae
Pacific longfin herring
Opisthopterus dovii
Labridae
Pacific longnose parrotfish
Hipposcarus longiceps
Clupeidae
Pacific menhaden
Ethmidium maculatum
Bramidae
Pacific pomfret
Brama japonica
Centrolophidae
Pacific rudderfish
Psenopsis anomala
Engraulidae
Pacific sabretooth anchovy
Lycengraulis poeyi
Alosidae
Pacific sardine
Sardinops sagax
Trichiuridae
Pacific scabbardfish
Lepidopus fitchi
Sparidae
Pacific seabream
Acanthopagrus pacificus
Labridae
Pacific slopehead parrotfish
Chlorurus frontalis
Dorosomatidae
Pacific thread herring
Opisthonema libertate
Apogonidae
Paddlefish cardinalfish
Pseudamia zonata
Antennariidae
painted angler
Antennarius pictus
Pseudochromidae
Painted dottyback
Pseudochromis pictus
Synanceiidae
Painted stinger
Minous pictus
Apogonidae
Pajama Cardinalfish
Sphaeramia nematoptera
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.