Clinidae
Shortfin snakeblenny
Ophiclinus brevipinnis
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.
Shortfin snakeblenny
Engraulidae
Shorthead hairfin anchovy
Setipinna breviceps
Holocentridae
Shortjaw soldierfish
Ostichthys brachygnathus
Apogonidae
Shortlight siphonfish
Siphamia brevilux
Leiognathidae
Shortnose ponyfish
Leiognathus brevirostris
Monacanthidae
Shortsnout filefish
Paramonacanthus curtorhynchos
Labridae
Shoulder-spot wrasse
Leptojulis cyanopleura
Carangidae
shrimp scad
Alepes djedaba
Holocentridae
Shy soldier
Plectrypops lima
Cyprinidae
Siamese algae eater
Crossocheilus atrilimes
Badidae
Siamese Badis
Badis siamensis
Cyprinidae
Siamese mud carp
Henicorhynchus siamensis
Nemacheilidae
Siberian Stone Loach
Barbatula toni
Bramidae
sickle pomfret
Taractichthys steindachneri
Antennariidae
Side-jet frogfish
Abantennarius duescus
Labridae
Sideburn wrasse
Pteragogus trispilus
Labridae
Sidespot wrasse
Pseudojuloides mesostigma
Pomacentridae
Silolona damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon silolona
Pomacentridae
Silty Damselfish
Pomacentrus cheraphilus
Priacanthidae
silver big-eye
Priacanthus blochii
Schilbeidae
Silver catfish
Schilbe intermedius
Cyprinidae
Silver cyprinid
Rastrineobola argentea
Pomacentridae
Silver demoiselle
Neopomacentrus anabatoides
Serrasalmidae
Silver Dollar fish
Mylossoma duriventre
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.