Gobiidae
Bella goby
Valenciennea bella
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.
Bella goby
Gobiidae
Bella shrimpgoby
Vanderhorstia belloides
Syngnathidae
belly pipefish
Hippichthys heptagonus
Gempylidae
Bengal escolar
Rexea bengalensis
Lutjanidae
Bengal snapper
Lutjanus bengalensis
Engraulidae
Bengal thryssa
Thryssa spinidens
Sparidae
Bengal yellowfin seabream
Acanthopagrus datnia
Anthiadidae
Bennett’s perchlet
Pelontrus bennetti
Pomacanthidae
bicolor angelfish
Centropyge bicolor
Anthiadidae
Bicolor anthias
Nemanthias bicolor
Chaetodontidae
Bicolor butterflyfish
Prognathodes dichrous
Pomacentridae
Bicolor chromis
Pycnochromis margaritifer
Labridae
bicolor cleaner wrasse
Labroides bicolor
Pomacentridae
bicolor damselfish
Stegastes partitus
Pomacentridae
Bicolor scalyfin
Parma bicolor
Bythitidae
Bicolored Aphionid
Barathronus bicolor
Siganidae
Bicolored foxface
Siganus uspi
Apogonidae
Big red cardinalfish
Apogon unicolor
Trachichthyidae
big roughy
Gephyroberyx darwinii
Cyprinidae
Big-Head Schizothoracin
Aspiorhynchus laticeps
Acropomatidae
Big-headed lanternbelly
Acropoma boholensis
Pomacentridae
Big-lip damsel
Cheiloprion labiatus
Pomacentridae
Big-scale parma
Parma oligolepis
Apogonidae
Bigeye cardinalfish
Nectamia bandanensis
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.