Batfish - Ephippidae
BATFISH - EPHIPPIDAE
These elegant swimmers are very curious and loved by divers. They are sometimes seen alone, but also in groups of more than a hundred individuals. Generally it is the young who catch the eye because of the longer pectoral, dorsal- and anal fins which become shorter as they get older. The juvenile, Platax orbicularis, looks like a dried mangrove leaf. They are mostly found in shallow water close to mangrove trees or jetties where they can hide if in danger. The Platax pinnatus juveniles grow up between the reef. In their first stage they are completely black with an orange outline around the whole body. Most fish will think that this is a large flatworm or nudibranch; again another camouflage trick to survive. Later the black color starts to fade and becomes light brown leaving two dark vertical bands on and just behind the face. Adult batfish are often observed changing color when they hang around cleaning stations. This can go from silver to dark brown and almost black. They feed on benthic invertebrates and plankton. Length: 45 cm.
Distribution: From Thailand to Solomon Is., Ryukyus, Flores and Great Barrier Reef.
Small concave before eyes, silvery ground colour. Juveniles resemble a toxic
flatworm, among mangroves and on inner sheltered reefs. Adults solitary near caves, shipwrecks or under ledges of seaward reefs to -20 m. Length: 60 cm.
Distribution: From the Red Sea to SW- Japan, New Guinea and Great Barrier Reef.
Similar to P. orbicularis but mostly have a black blotch in front of arse fin.
Juveniles have extremely long fins, solitary or in group at lagoons and seaward reefs from 1 to -20 m. Length: 57 cm.
Distribution: From the Red Sea to French Polynesia, Ryukyus and New Caledonia.
Similar to P. teira but have more yellow colour on the fins. Juveniles have a light
brown colour and immitate a floating leaf, among mangroves and in inner sheltered
lagoons. Large adults solitary or in group in open water over sandy areas of deep
lagoons and seaward reefs to -30 m. Feeds on algae, invertebrates and small fishes.