Alosidae
shad
Alosa sapidissima
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.
shad
Carangidae
shadow trevally
Carangoides dinema
Holocentridae
shadowfin soldierfish
Myripristis adusta
Antennariidae
shaggy angler
Antennarius hispidus
Pempheridae
Sharm sweeper
Parapriacanthus sharm
Plesiopidae
Sharp-nosed longfin
Plesiops oxycephalus
Adrianichthyidae
Sharpjawed buntingi
Oryzias orthognathus
Labridae
sharpnose wrasse
Wetmorella nigropinnata
Synagropidae
Sharptooth seabass
Parascombrops philippinensis
Gobiidae
Sheppard's pygmygoby
Trimma sheppardi
Apogonidae
Shimmering cardinal
Taeniamia lineolata
Pempheridae
Shimoni sweeper
Pempheris shimoni
Stromateidae
shiner
Peprilus triacanthus
Stomiidae
Shining Snaggletooth
Borostomias elucens
Cichlidae
Shire tilapia
Oreochromis shiranus
Siganidae
shoemaker spinefoot
Siganus sutor
Hapalogenyidae
Short barbeled velvetchin
Hapalogenys nigripinnis
Acanthuridae
Short-tail bristle-tooth
Ctenochaetus cyanocheilus
Pomacentridae
Short-tail doublebar Chromis
Chromis anadema
Engraulidae
Short-tail thryssa
Thryssa brevicauda
Trichiuridae
Short-tailed hairtail
Trichiurus russelli
Apogonidae
Short-tooth cardinal
Ostorhinchus apogonoides
Dorosomatidae
shortbody sardine
Sardinella maderensis
Carangidae
shortfin scad
Decapterus macrosoma
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.