Gempylidae
scabbardfish
Nesiarchus nasutus
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.
scabbardfish
Bothidae
scaldfish
Arnoglossus laterna
Dorosomatidae
scaled sardine
Harengula jaguana
Tetrarogidae
Scaleless spiny waspfsh
Ablabys gymnothorax
Acanthuridae
Scalpel sawtail
Prionurus scalprum
Mormyridae
Scaly Bulldog
Marcusenius multisquamatus
Pomacentridae
Scaly chromis
Azurina lepidolepis
Pomacentridae
Scaly damsel
Pomacentrus lepidogenys
Engraulidae
Scaly hairfin anchovy
Setipinna taty
Gobiidae
Scaly-nape tentacle goby
Oxyurichthys auchenolepis
Mormyridae
Scalytail Bulldog
Marcusenius caudisquamatus
Badidae
Scarlet Badis
Dario dario
Antennariidae
Scarlet frogfish
Abantennarius coccineus
Holocentridae
scarlet soldierfish
Myripristis pralinia
Schindleriidae
Schindler's fish
Schindleria praematura
Apogonidae
Schlegel's cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus schlegeli
Cichlidae
Schwebisch's Tilapia
Oreochromis schwebischi
Pomacentridae
Scissors Chromis
Chromis gunting
Pomacentridae
Scissortail damselfish
Azurina atrilobata
Pomacentridae
scissortail sergeant
Abudefduf sexfasciatus
Labridae
Scott's wrasse
Cirrhilabrus scottorum
Chaetodontidae
scrawled butterflyfish
Chaetodon meyeri
Pomacanthidae
Scribbled angelfish
Chaetodontoplus duboulayi
Chaetodontidae
scythe butterflyfish
Prognathodes falcifer
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.