Sparidae
Saffronfin sea bream
Dentex spariformis
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.
Saffronfin sea bream
Pomacentridae
Sahul Chromis
Chromis sahulensis
Nemipteridae
Sahul monocle bream
Scolopsis meridiana
Melanotaeniidae
Sahul rainbowfish
Melanotaenia sahulensis
Anthiadidae
Sailfin anthias
Rabaulichthys altipinnis
Labridae
Sailfin fairy-wrasse
Cirrhilabrus marinda
Chaetodontidae
Saint Helena butterflyfish
Chaetodon sanctaehelenae
Pomacentridae
Saint Helena Gregory
Stegastes sanctaehelenae
Anthiadidae
Salmon-spotted jewelfish
Choranthias salmopunctatus
Cyprinidae
Salween's barb
Hypsibarbus salweenensis
Holocentridae
sammara squirrelfish
Neoniphon sammara
Cyprinidae
Samnite Barbel
Barbus samniticus
Engraulidae
Samoan anchovy
Stolephorus apiensis
Apogonidae
Samoan cardinalfish
Nectamia savayensis
Labridae
Samoan fairy wrasse
Cirrhilabrus walshi
Holocentridae
Samurai squirrelfish
Sargocentron ittodai
Epinephelidae
sand grouper
Epinephelus stoliczkae
Tetraodontidae
Sand Toby
Canthigaster punctata
Alosidae
Saposhnikovi shad
Alosa saposchnikowii
Pomacentridae
sapphire damsel
Pomacentrus pavo
Gobiidae
Sarah's fairygoby
Tryssogobius sarah
Antennariidae
Sargassumfish
Histrio histrio
Trichiuridae
Savalai hairtail
Lepturacanthus savala
Trichiuridae
scabbardfish
Lepidopus caudatus
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.