A laterally compressed body shape is common in bony fishes that live in dense cover or within coral reefs. The compressed body is laterally flattened. A depressed body shape is common in bottom-dwelling bony fishes. Elongated body shapes are common in open ocean fishes and eels. The elongated body is horizontally lengthened.
Most bony fishes have a fusiform body shape.
Others may have a compressed, depressed, or elongated body shape. Most fish species have pigmentation. Pigment is mostly contained in cells called chromatophores. Most fishes can contract and expand their chromatophores to change colors. Reflective cells called iridocytes can change color rapidly.