Gobiidae
Rainfords goby
Koumansetta rainfordi
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.
Rainfords goby
Pseudochromidae
Raja Ampat Dottyback
Pseudochromis ammeri
Scorpaenidae
Rama Rao's scorpionfish
Scorpaenopsis ramaraoi
Epinephelidae
Randall's Basslet
Liopropoma randalli
Pomacentridae
Randall's chromis
Chromis randalli
Anthiadidae
Randall's fairy basslet
Pseudanthias randalli
Monacanthidae
Randall's Filefish
Pervagor randalli
Antennariidae
Randall's frogfish
Antennarius randalli
Caesionidae
Randall's fusilier
Pterocaesio randalli
Bythitidae
Randall's viviparous brotula
Ematops randalli
Gobiidae
Randall’s pygmygoby
Trimma randalli
Malacanthidae
Randall’s tilefish
Hoplolatilus randalli
Anthiadidae
Rapa Nui splitfin
Luzonichthys kiomeamea
Gobiidae
Rasp coralgoby
Gobiodon brochus
Gonorynchidae
Ratfish
Gonorynchus greyi
Trichiuridae
razorback scabbardfish
Assurger anzac
Centriscidae
razorfish
Aeoliscus strigatus
Apogonidae
Rearbar cardinalfish
Apogon posterofasciatus
Acestrorhamphidae
Red and Blue Peru Tetra
Hyphessobrycon margitae
Badidae
Red Badis
Badis blosyrus
Priacanthidae
Red bigeye
Priacanthus macracanthus
Berycidae
red bream
Beryx splendens
Setarchidae
Red deepwater scorpionfish
Setarches longimanus
Cichlidae
red empress cichlid
Protomelas similis
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.