Dorosomatidae
Royal sprat
Microthrissa royauxi
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.
Royal sprat
Gobiidae
Rubicundus eelgoby
Odontamblyopus rubicundus
Apogonidae
ruby cardinalfish
Apogon coccineus
Labridae
ruby longfin fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus rubeus
Labridae
Ruby-headed Fairy Wrasse
Cirrhilabrus chaliasi
Bythitidae
Rubynose brotula
Cataetyx rubrirostris
Gobiidae
Rufous coralgoby
Gobiodon irregularis
Apogonidae
Rufus cardinalfish
Pristicon rufus
Acestrorhamphidae
Rummy-nose tetra
Petitella rhodostoma
Pomacanthidae
Russet angelfish
Centropyge potteri
Pomacanthidae
Rusty angelfish
Centropyge ferrugata
Pseudochromidae
Sabah dottyback
Manonichthys alleni
Holocentridae
sabre squirrelfish
Sargocentron spiniferum
Engraulidae
Sabretoothed thryssa
Lycothrissa crocodilus
Microdesmidae
sad glider
Ptereleotris lineopinnis
Pomacentridae
saddle anemonefish
Amphiprion ephippium
Chaetodontidae
Saddle butterflyfish
Chaetodon ephippium
Pomacentridae
Saddleback clownfish
Amphiprion polymnus
Gerreidae
Saddleback silver-biddy
Gerres limbatus
Pseudochromidae
Saddled dottyback
Pictichromis ephippiata
Gobiidae
Saddled dwarfgoby
Trimmatom sagma
Pinguipedidae
Saddled sandperch
Parapercis sagma
Epinephelidae
saddletail grouper
Epinephelus daemelii
Anthiadidae
Saffron anthias
Pseudanthias oumati
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.