Epinephelidae
Spotlined bass
Liopropoma japonicum
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.
Spotlined bass
Apogonidae
Spotnape cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus notatus
Cyprinidae
Spotted barb
Barbodes binotatus
Bythitidae
Spotted gelatinous cusk
Barathronus maculatus
Epinephelidae
spotted grouper
Epinephelus analogus
Serranidae
Spotted hamlet
Hypoplectrus ecosur
Gobiidae
Spotted redlined pygmygoby
Trimma capostriatum
Drepaneidae
spotted sicklefish
Drepane punctata
Clinidae
Spotted snake blenny
Ophiclinops pardalis
Lebiasinidae
Spotted tetra
Copella nattereri
Acanthuridae
spotted unicornfish
Naso brevirostris
Acanthuridae
Spotted unicornfish
Naso maculatus
Aploactinidae
Spotted velvetfish
Erisphex pottii
Sparidae
Spotted yellowfin seabream
Acanthopagrus sheim
Apistidae
Spotted-fin waspfish
Apistus shaula
Apogonidae
Spotted-gill cardinalfish
Ostorhinchus chrysopomus
Gobiidae
Spottedfin dwarfgoby
Eviota spilota
Engraulidae
Spotty-face anchovy
Stolephorus waitei
Macrouridae
Spottytail membranehead
Hymenocephalus maculicaudus
Triglidae
Spotwing gurnard
Lepidotrigla spiloptera
Clupeidae
sprat
Sprattus sprattus
Pomacentridae
spring chromis
Chromis earina
Dinematichthyidae
Springer's coralbrotula
Diancistrus springeri
Pomacentridae
Springer's demoiselle
Chrysiptera springeri
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.