Dorosomatidae
Reunion herring
Herklotsichthys spilura
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.
Reunion herring
Engraulidae
Reynald's grenadier anchovy
Coilia reynaldi
Pomacentridae
Rhomboid Chromis
Chromis bowesi
Dinematichthyidae
Riau viviparous brotula
Ungusurculus riauensis
Apogonidae
Rib-bar cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus pleuron
Epinephelidae
Ribbon basslet
Liopropoma lemniscatum
Gobiidae
Ribbon reefgoby
Priolepis vexilla
Haemulidae
ribboned sweetlips
Plectorhinchus polytaenia
Labridae
Richmond's wrasse
Halichoeres richmondi
Scorpaenidae
Ridged-mouth scorpionfish
Neomerinthe costata
Apogonidae
Rifle cardinal
Ostorhinchus kiensis
Labridae
ring wrasse
Hologymnosus annulatus
Apogonidae
Ring-tailed cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus aureus
Labridae
Ringtail maori wrasse
Oxycheilinus unifasciatus
Acanthuridae
ringtail surgeonfish
Acanthurus blochii
Engraulidae
Rio Negro pygmy anchovy
Amazonsprattus scintilla
Gobiidae
Rippled coralgoby
Gobiodon rivulatus
Epigonidae
Robust cardinalfish
Epigonus machaera
Ophidiidae
Robust cusk-eel
Lepophidium robustum
Holocentridae
Robust soldierfish
Myripristis robusta
Pomacentridae
Rocas gregory
Stegastes rocasensis
Pempheridae
Rocha's sweeper
Pempheris rochai
Pomacanthidae
rock beauty
Holacanthus tricolor
Cyprinidae
Rock carp
Procypris rabaudi
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.