Labridae
Pakoko wrasse
Macropharyngodon pakoko
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.
Pakoko wrasse
Pomacentridae
Pale damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon indicus
Tetrarogidae
Pale fortescue
Centropogon latifrons
Macrouridae
Pale smiling whiptail
Ventrifossa gomoni
Labridae
Pale-barred coris
Coris dorsomacula
Labridae
Palebar hogfish
Bodianus atrolumbus
Gobiidae
Palebarred goby
Priolepis pallidicincta
Acanthuridae
Palelipped surgeonfish
Acanthurus leucocheilus
Epinephelidae
Palemargin grouper
Epinephelus bontoides
Gobiidae
palespot eviota
Eviota nebulosa
Pomacentridae
Paletail chromis
Chromis xanthura
Pomacentridae
Paletail damsel
Pomacentrus trichrourus
Acanthuridae
Palette surgeonfish
Paracanthurus hepatus
Gobiidae
Pallid pygmygoby
Trimma anaima
Pristigasteridae
Panama longfin herring
Odontognathus panamensis
Anomalopidae
Panamic flashlightfish
Phthanophaneron harveyi
Pomacentridae
Panamic sergeant major
Abudefduf troschelii
Pangasiidae
Pangas catfish
Pangasius pangasius
Pomacentridae
Papuan damselfish
Chrysiptera papuensis
Engraulidae
Papuan double-lined anchovy
Stolephorus grandis
Lutjanidae
Papuan snapper
Lutjanus papuensis
Osphronemidae
paradise fish
Macropodus opercularis
Labridae
Paradise Pencil Wrasse
Pseudojuloides paradiseus
Polynemidae
paradise threadfin
Polynemus paradiseus
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.