Epinephelidae
Spinycheek grouper
Epinephelus diacanthus
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.
Spinycheek grouper
Chlorophthalmidae
Spinyjaw greeneye
Chlorophthalmus corniger
Labridae
spinytooth parrotfish
Calotomus spinidens
Pseudochromidae
Splendid dottyback
Manonichthys splendens
Labridae
Splendid pencil wrasse
Pseudojuloides splendens
Leiognathidae
Splendid ponyfish
Eubleekeria splendens
Labridae
splendid rainbow wrasse
Halichoeres marginatus
Malakichthyidae
Splendid seabass
Malakichthys elegans
Labridae
Splitlevel hogfish
Bodianus mesothorax
Gobiidae
Sponge Frillgoby
Bathygobius mero
Labridae
Spot fin parrotfish
Scarus maculipinna
Labridae
Spot-lined flasher
Paracheilinus lineopunctatus
Chaetodontidae
Spot-nape butterflyfish
Chaetodon oxycephalus
Apogonidae
Spot-nape cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus jenkinsi
Pseudochromidae
Spot-stripe dottyback
Pseudochromis tonozukai
Chaetodontidae
Spot-tail butterflyfish
Chaetodon ocellicaudus
Epinephelidae
Spot-tail golden bass
Liopropoma santi
Pseudochromidae
Spot-tailed dottyback
Pseudochromis jamesi
Dorosomatidae
spotback herring
Herklotsichthys punctatus
Chaetodontidae
Spotband butterflyfish
Chaetodon punctatofasciatus
Pomacanthidae
Spotbreast angelfish
Genicanthus melanospilos
Chaetodontidae
spotfin butterflyfish
Chaetodon ocellatus
Antennariidae
Spotfin frogfish
Abantennarius nummifer
Scorpaenidae
Spotfin scorpionfish
Neoscorpaena nielseni
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.