Platax pinnatus
Longfin Batfish
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Ephippidae
Genus
Platax
Species
Platax pinnatus
Colours
Distinguishing features
A medium to large sized silver fish with vertical black stripes through the eye and behind the operculum. The dorsal and anal fins are highly elongated, especially in juveniles and young adults, and the tail is yellowish. The snout protrudes slightly. Small juveiles are black with a bright orange margin around the body, they mimic toxic flatworms and swim with a distinct undulating pattern.
Size
- Up to 45 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Areas of coral reef with caves and holes for shelter, generally in lagoonal areas with low current.
Found in most reef habitats around the island.
Behaviour
The Longfin Batfish is usually seen in small groups of 2 or 3 resting in caves or overhangs during the day. Their usual diet consists of macroalgae, zooplankton and benthic invertebrates.
Web resources
References
- Bellwood, D.R., T.P. Hughes and A.S. Hoey (2006). Sleeping functional group drives coral-reef recovery, Current Biology, 16: 2434-2439. LIRS catalog number 90049.
- Bray, R.A., T.H. Cribb and J.-L. Justine (2010). Multitestis Manter 1931 (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae) in ephippid and chaetodontid fishes (Perciformes) in the south-western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean off Western Australia. Zootaxa, 2427: 36-46. LIRS catalog number 1404.
- Grutter, A.S. (1997). Effect of the removal of cleaner fish on the abundance and species composition of reef fish, Oecologia, 111: 137-143. LIRS catalog number 504.
- View all references