From the Latin dorsum - back and venter - stomach.

Dorsoventral flat - type of body shape in fish flattened in dorso-abdominal direction.

There are about 600 species of flatfish, many of which are eaten by humans. The interesting arrangement of the eyes of these fish is no accident. In the juvenile stage, the fish's eyes are positioned in symmetry with respect to their body and head, but when the juvenile fish grows up, it turns into a fish that lies on the bottom of the sea. By moving one eye higher, the fish can see with both eyes, which it needs in order to survive. Flatfish species include: Flounder; Halibut; Tilapia; Stingrays. The largest flatfish is the Atlantic whitefin halibut.