Distichodontidae
red-finned distichodus
Distichodus notospilus
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 distichodus
Cyprinidae
Red-finned mud carp
Henicorhynchus ornatipinnis
Pseudochromidae
Red-gold Dottyback
Pseudochromis rutilus
Labridae
Red-lined wrasse
Halichoeres biocellatus
Lebiasinidae
Red-spotted Copeina
Copella eigenmanni
Gobiidae
Red-striped goby
Trimma cana
Characidae
Red-Tailed Astyanax
Odontostilbe pulchra
Epinephelidae
red-tipped grouper
Epinephelus retouti
Cichlidae
Redbelly tilapia
Coptodon zillii
Caesionidae
Redbelly yellowtail fusilier
Caesio cuning
Anthiadidae
Redblotch basslet
Xenanthias winniensis
Cichlidae
Redbreast tilapia
Coptodon rendalli
Serrasalmidae
Redcheek Piranha
Serrasalmus altispinis
Holocentridae
redcoat
Sargocentron rubrum
Gobiidae
Redeye goby
Bryaninops natans
Mugilidae
Redeye mullet
Mugil rubrioculus
Apogonidae
Redfin cardinalfish
Pristicon rhodopterus
Gobiidae
redhead goby
Paragobiodon echinocephalus
Epinephelidae
redmouth grouper
Aethaloperca rogaa
Apogonidae
Redspot cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus dispar
Apogonidae
Redspot cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus parvulus
Cichlidae
Redspot Cichlid
Darienheros calobrensis
Labridae
Redspot wrasse
Pseudocoris yamashiroi
Acestrorhamphidae
Redstriped Tetra
Hemigrammus rubrostriatus
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.