Orbicular batfish

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Orbicular batfish
Pez murcielago orbicular (Platax orbicularis), mar Rojo, Egipto, 2023-04-19, DD 01.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Moroniformes
Family: Ephippidae
Genus: Platax
Species:
P. orbicularis
Binomial name
Platax orbicularis
(Forsskål, 1775)
Synonyms [2]
  • Chaetodon orbicularis Forsskål, 1775
  • Chaetodon vespertilio Bloch, 1787
  • Platax vespertilio (Bloch, 1787)
  • Platax ehrenbergii G. Cuvier, 1831
  • Platax blochii G. Cuvier, 1831
  • Platax guttulatus G. Cuvier, 1831

The orbicular batfish (Platax orbicularis), also known as the cooper batfish, circular batfish, orbiculate batfish, round batfish, narrow-banded batfish or orbic batfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes and batfishes. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific but has been recorded outside its native range in the western Atlantic Ocean.

Contents

Taxonomy

The orbicular batfish was first formally described as Chaetodon orbicularis by the Swedish-speaking Finnish explorer, orientalist, naturalist Peter Forsskål with its type locality given as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. [3] This species is classified within the genus Platax which belongs to the family Ephippidae [4] in the order Moroniformes. [5] The specific name orbicularis means "circular" or "disc-like", a reference to the round body. [6]

Description

Orbicular batfish adults have orbicular, i.e. round bodies. [7] The body is very deep and is highly compressed. In larger adults, i.e. those with a total length in excess of 40 cm (16 in) have a indented snout with a bony intraorbital protuberance. There are five pores on each side of the lower jaw. Both jaws have bands of thin, flattened, tricuspid teeth with the central cusp being around two times as long as the lateral cusps. There are no teeth on the roof of the mouth. [8] The dorsal fin is supported by 5 spines and between 34 and 39 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 25 to 29 soft rays. The colour of adults is silvery grey with black vertical bars running through the pectoral fin and eye. [7] The anal and dorsal fins are yellowish with black margins. [2] There is sometimes a scattering of small black spots on the flanks. [7] The small juveniles are reddish brown in colour, marked with irregular black spots and blotches as well as small, white, black margined ocelli on the body. There is a small black spot at base of last 3 rays on both the dorsal and anal fin and the caudal fin is transparent except for its reddish brown base. [2] The orbicular batfish has a maximum published total length of 60 cm (24 in). [2]

Juvenile Platax orbicularis juvenil 2.jpg
Juvenile

Distribution and habitat

Orbicular batfish are native to the Indo-Pacific from eastern Africa from South Africa, Madagascar, the Mascarenes and Seychelles, north into the Red Sea east through the Persian Gulf, and on into Micronesia as far as the Tuamotu Archipelago, north to southern Japan and south to northern Australia. [1] In Australia they are found at the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea as well as at Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. On the mainland they occur from Shark Bay in Western Australia around the northern tropical coast and south on the east coast almost to Sydney. [8] They are found in shallow, protected coastal waters [2] including mangroves, coral reefs and deeper areas with silt substrates. The juveniles typically hide among in mangroves and in protected lagoons, frequently amongst flotsam where they mimic dead leaves floating in the water column. [8]

Introduced range

Orbicular batfish have been recorded in the Western Atlantic off southern Florida, most likely as a result of deliberate release from aquariums. [7]

Biology

Orbicular batfish adults may be found singly, in small schools, and are, occasionally, in large aggregations. Juveniles are either solitary or in small groups. [2] They lay pelagic eggs and females attain sexual maturity at a length of around 32 cm (13 in). [1] They are omnivorous, feeding on algae, small fishes and invertebrates. [8]

Utilisation

The orbicular batfish is mainly caught in subsistence and small scale commercial fisheries using handlines and nets. In French Polynesia, particularly Tahiti, this species is being increasingly used in fish farms to provide food. The juveniles are popular in the aquarium trade with most of the fish in the trade originating in Indonesia and the Philippines. [1]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louvar</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sohal surgeonfish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Macolor</i> Genus of fishes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black and white snapper</span> Species of fish

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<i>Scatophagus argus</i> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlantic spadefish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Caracanthus</i> Genus of fishes

Caracanthus, the coral crouchers, or orbicular velvetfishes, are a genus of ray-finned fishes. They live in coral reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific. This genus is the only member of the monotypic subfamily Caracanthinae, part of the family Scorpaenidae.

Platax pinnatus, also known as the longfin batfish, pinnate spadefish, pinnate batfish, pinnatus batfish, dusky batfish, shaded batfish, or red-faced batfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes and batfishes. This species is found in the western Pacific Ocean and occasionally is kept in marine aquariums.

<i>Platax teira</i> Species of fish

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<i>Acanthurus maculiceps</i> Species of fish

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Platax batavianus, the humpback batfish, Batavian batfish, batfish, humped batfish, hump-headed hatfish, moonfish or zebra batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish in the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes and batfishes. They are found in coral reefs around the Indo-Pacific region. Adults can grow up to 65 centimetres (26 in) at maximum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotbanded scat</span> Species of fish

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<i>Pomadasys argenteus</i> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pygmy snapper</span> Species of fish

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<i>Siganus stellatus</i> Species of fish

Siganus stellatus, the brown-spotted spinefoot, brown-spotted rabbitfish, honeycomb rabbitfish, starspotted spinefoot, starspotted rabbitfish or stellate rabbitfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a rabbitfish belonging to the family Siganidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Platax boersii</i> Species of ray-finned fish

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Carpenter, K.E.; Robertson, R. (2019). "Platax orbicularis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T190152A53937753. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T190152A53937753.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Platax orbicularis" in FishBase. February 2023 version.
  3. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Platax". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Ephippidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  5. ↑ J. S. Nelson; T. C. Grande; M. V. H. Wilson (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Wiley. pp. 495–497. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6.
  6. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (12 January 2021). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 2): Families EPHIPPIDAE, LEIOGNATHIDAE, SCATOPHAGIDAE, ANTIGONIIDAE, SIGANIDAE, CAPROIDAE, LUVARIDAE, ZANCLIDAE and ACANTHURIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Morris, J.A. Jr. and Schofield, P.J. (2023). "Platax orbicularis (Forsskål, 1775)". Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL. U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Bray, D.J. (2020). "Platax orbicularis". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 6 Apr 2023.
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