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BATFISH (SPADEFISH) - EPHIPPIDAE

Batfish-info

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.

- Check the sub-map for the specimen information files -


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