Bathylagidae
Stout blacksmelt
Pseudobathylagus milleri
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.
Stout blacksmelt
Pomacentridae
stout chromis
Chromis chrysura
Belonidae
Stout longtom
Tylosurus gavialoides
Pomacentridae
Strasburg's dascyllus
Dascyllus strasburgi
Epinephelidae
strawberry hind
Cephalopholis spiloparaea
Siganidae
Streaked spinefoot
Siganus javus
Pseudochromidae
Striated dottyback
Pseudochromis striatus
Antennariidae
striated frogfish
Antennarius striatus
Caesionidae
Striated fusilier
Caesio striata
Labridae
striated wrasse
Pseudocheilinus evanidus
Pseudochromidae
Stripe-tailed dottyback
Pseudochromis caudalis
Gobiidae
Striped barbelgoby
Gobiopsis malekulae
Gempylidae
striped escolar
Diplospinus multistriatus
Gobiidae
Striped goby
Asterropteryx striata
Epinephelidae
Striped grouper
Epinephelus latifasciatus
Dorosomatidae
striped herring
Lile stolifera
Cyprinidae
Striped mud carp
Henicorhynchus caudimaculatus
Nothobranchiidae
Striped Nothobranch
Nothobranchius taeniopygus
Leiognathidae
Striped ponyfish
Aurigequula fasciata
Apogonidae
Striped siphonfish
Siphamia majimai
Anthiadidae
Striped splitfin
Luzonichthys taeniatus
Synanceiidae
striped stingfish
Minous trachycephalus
Haemulidae
Striped sweetlips
Plectorhinchus diagrammus
Balistidae
striped triggerfish
Xanthichthys lineopunctatus
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.