Cyprinidae
Red finned kuruva
Systomus rufus
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.
Red finned kuruva
Pseudomugilidae
Red neon blue-eye
Pseudomugil luminatus
Cyprinidae
Red Pangani barb
Enteromius venustus
Sparidae
red porgy
Pagrus pagrus
Serrasalmidae
Red Ruby Piranha
Serrasalmus maculatus
Pomacanthidae
Red Sea angelfish
Apolemichthys xanthotis
Scorpaenidae
Red Sea Clearfin Lionfish
Pteropterus cinctus
Gobiesocidae
Red Sea Doublestriped Clingfish
Lepadichthys erythraeus
Atherinidae
Red Sea hardyhead silverside
Atherinomorus forskalii
Sparidae
Red Sea soldierbream
Argyrops megalommatus
Holocentridae
Red Sea soldierfish
Ostichthys sufensis
Labridae
Red Sea Thicklip Wrasse
Hemigymnus sexfasciatus
Labridae
Red Sea Vermiculate Wrasse
Macropharyngodon marisrubri
Labridae
Red shoulder wrasse
Stethojulis bandanensis
Cichlidae
Red top williamsi
Pseudotropheus williamsi
Barbourisiidae
Red whalefish
Barbourisia rufa
Labridae
Red-and-green Coris
Coris roseoviridis
Anthiadidae
Red-bar anthias
Pseudanthias cooperi
Labridae
Red-barred wrasse
Polylepion gilmorei
Serrasalmidae
Red-bellied piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri
Anthiadidae
Red-cheeked fairy basslet
Pseudanthias huchtii
Gobiidae
Red-earth pygmygoby
Trimma milta
Labridae
Red-eye wrasse
Cirrhilabrus solorensis
Labridae
Red-fin fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus adornatus
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.