Scorpaenidae
Parallel-spine scorpionfish
Neomerinthe parallelaspina
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.
Parallel-spine scorpionfish
Labridae
pastel ringwrasse
Hologymnosus doliatus
Labridae
Pastel-green wrasse
Halichoeres chloropterus
Mullidae
Pavlov’s goatfish
Upeneus dimipavlov
Apogonidae
Paxton's cardinalfish
Paxton concilians
Gempylidae
Paxton's escolar
Rexichthys johnpaxtoni
Labridae
peacock razorfish
Iniistius pavo
Gobiidae
Peacock Sandgoby
Gnatholepis argus
Carapidae
Pearl fish
Carapus acus
Glaucosomatidae
Pearl perch
Glaucosoma scapulare
Pomacentridae
Pearl-spot chromis
Chromis notata
Pomacanthidae
Pearlscale angelfish
Centropyge vrolikii
Chaetodontidae
Pearlscale butterflyfish
Chaetodon xanthurus
Apogonidae
Pearly cardinalfish
Zoramia perlita
Mullidae
Pearly goatfish
Parupeneus margaritatus
Pomacentridae
pearly sergeant
Abudefduf margariteus
Holocentridae
pearly soldierfish
Myripristis kuntee
Chaetodontidae
Pebbled butterflyfish
Chaetodon multicinctus
Ophidiidae
Pelagic cusk
Pycnocraspedum squamipinne
Bothidae
pelican flounder
Chascanopsetta lugubris
Apteronotidae
Pelican Knifefish
Compsaraia samueli
Pomacentridae
pemba chromis
Chromis pembae
Holocentridae
Pence's squirrelfish
Neoniphon pencei
Epigonidae
pencil cardinal
Epigonus denticulatus
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.