Platax

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Platax
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Platax, Mauritius.jpg
Platax teira
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Moroniformes
Family: Ephippidae
Genus: Platax
G. Cuvier, 1816
Type species
Chaetodon teira
Species

See text

Platax is a genus of Indo-Pacific, reef-associated fish belonging to the family Ephippidae. [1] There are currently five known extant species generally accepted to belong to the genus. [2] They are one of the fish taxa commonly known as "batfish".

Contents

Description

Members of the genus Platax are generally similar in shape to the other species in the family. Adults are rather disc-shaped fish, with laterally compressed bodies and large dorsal and anal fins that give individuals a somewhat triangular profile. Platax teira is the largest species, reaching lengths of around 70 centimetres (28 in). [3] The other species reach maximum lengths of around 40–65 cm (16–26 in). [1]

Distribution

Platax can be found in reefs throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region. Their range extends from the western Indian Ocean in the Red Sea to as far east as Australia. Most Platax species can be found in higher latitudes, as high as the Ryukyu Islands in Japan and as far south as the eastern coast of Australia. [4] However, the ranges of the individual species is not consistent throughout the genus' range. Platax pinnatus for example is most likely not found in the Indian Ocean. [1] A few individuals have been found in Atlantic waters. Apparently, the species Platax orbicularis has been observed in Florida waters as a non-native, invasive species. The aquarium industry has been blamed for the spread of this species into the Caribbean. [5]

Members of the genus are most common around reefs and shipwrecks. [4]

Taxonomy

The genus was first used by Cuvier with the publication of his 1816 system of animal classification. He assigned the genus to the batfish species Platax boersii , a classification which still holds to this day. Another species to be assigned to the genus by Cuvier was Platax ocellatus , a butterflyfish that is now more correctly classified in the genus Chaetodon in Chaetodontidae. In the same work, a species that is now known to belong to the genus, Platax teira was classified by Cuvier in a different genus, Chaetodon teira. [6]

A few species have been assigned to the genus that have since been reclassified into other genera. The butterflyfish, C. ocellatus mentioned above is one of these species. Another species that has been mistakenly classified as a Platax is the common freshwater angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare . In a joint effort with Valenciennes, Cuvier published a natural history work in 1831 where the freshwater angelfish was classified as Platax scalaris. [7] The freshwater angelfish, of course is not as closely related to the marine batfish as to warrant classification in the same genus. [8] A more scientifically acceptable mis-classification would be that of the species Zabidius novemaculeatus . This species was first described as Platax novemaculeatus by Mcculloch when it was discovered from Australia in the early 1900s. [9] The species is now classified in the genus Zabidius , which is still in the same family as the genus Platax. [10]

The generic name, "platax" was coined from the Greek term platys - meaning "flat". This refers to the generally compressed body shape of the fish. They are commonly called "batfish". [1] However, they are not the only fish taxon called by this name. Fish from the only distantly related family Ogcocephalidae are also commonly known as "batfish". [11] Other families with species that have been referred to as "batfish" include the families Dactylopteridae, [12] Drepaneidae, [13] Monacanthidae, [14] and Monodactylidae. [15]

Species

There are currently five recognized species in this genus: [16]

There are also at least four fossil species known: [17]

Platax altissimus reconstruction Platax altissimus reconstruction.JPG
Platax altissimus reconstruction

Related Research Articles

<i>Pomacanthus</i> Genus of fishes

Pomacanthus is a genus of marine angelfish that is usually found around reefs and coral. Some of the notable places one can see these vari-coloured fish includes the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Sipidan off the southern coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Generally the patterns and colors of these fish undergo a major transformation from juvenile to adult forms. The juveniles may even appear to be a different species.

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

The orbicular batfish, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ephippidae</span> Family of fishes

Ephippidae is a family of percomorph fishes, the spadefishes, in the order Moroniformes. These fishes are found in the tropical and temperate oceans of the world, except for the central Pacific.

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

Enoplosus armatus, commonly referred to as the old wife, is a species of perciform fish endemic to the temperate coastal waters of Australia. It is the only modern species in the family Enoplosidae.

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

The emperor angelfish is a species of marine angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Austral Islands. This species is generally associated with stable populations and faces no major threats of extinction. It is a favorite of photographers, artists, and aquarists because of its unique, brilliant pattern of coloration.

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

The pennant coralfish, also known as the longfin bannerfish, reef bannerfish or coachman, is a species of fish of the family Chaetodontidae, native to the Indo-Pacific area.

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

The raccoon butterflyfish, also known as the crescent-masked butterflyfish, lunule butterflyfish, halfmoon butterflyfish, moon butterflyfish, raccoon butterfly, raccoon, raccoon coralfish, and redstriped butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

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

The millet butterflyfish is a species of butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae. Other common names include the lemon butterflyfish and the millet-seed butterflyfish. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and the Johnston Atoll, where it is found at depths down to 250 m (820 ft). Although it has a limited range, it is common around Hawaii, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

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

The lined butterflyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish. a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, one of the largest species in the genus Chaetodon. It has a wide range from the Red Sea to South Africa and as far east as southern Japan and Hawaii.

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

The latticed butterflyfish, also known as Raffles’ coralfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.

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

The Seychelles butterflyfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean from eastern Africa east to Cocos-Keeling Islands and Christmas Island, north to Sri Lanka. The Seychelles butterflyfish is found in areas of rich coral growth on seaward reefs, at 10–40 m depth.

<i>Parachaetodon</i> Genus of fishes

Parachaetodon is a monotypic genus of butterflyfishes, the only species being the sixspine butterflyfish, which is also known as the ocellate butterflyfish or eyespot butterflyfish. is a species of butterflyfish native to tropical reefs of the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

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

Platax teira, also known as the teira batfish, longfin batfish, longfin spadefish, or round 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 Indo-West Pacific.

Halieutopsis is a fish genus in the family Ogcocephalidae.

<i>Ogcocephalus</i> Genus of fishes

Ogcocephalus is an anglerfish genus in the batfish family Ogcocephalidae.

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

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.

<i>Chaetodon leucopleura</i> Species of fish

Chaetodon leucopleura, the Somali butterflyfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish belonging to the family Chaetodontidae. It is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean.

Halieutopsis nasuta, also known as the big-nosed deepsea batfish, is a species of fish in the family Ogcocephalidae.

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

Platax boersii, the golden spadefish or Boers’ batfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes and bay fishes. This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2009). Species of Platax in FishBase . January 2009 version.
  2. ↑ "Platax Cuvier, 1816". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved 14 January 2009.
  3. ↑ Randall, J. E. (1995). Coastal fish of Oman. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. p. 439.
  4. 1 2 Myers, R. F. (1991). Micronesian reef fish (2nd ed.). Barrigada, Guam: Coral Graphics. p. 298.
  5. ↑ Pickrell, John (2004-06-01). "Freed pet fish threaten native species, study says". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 28, 2004. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  6. ↑ Cuvier, Georges (1816). Le Règne Animal distribué d'après son organisation pour servir de base à l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée. Les reptiles, les poissons, les mollusques et les annélides. Règne Animal (ed. 1) i-xviii (1st ed.). p. 532.
  7. ↑ Cuvier, Georges; A. Valenciennes (April 1831). Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome septième. Livre septième. Des Squamipennes. Livre huitième. Des poissons à pharyngiens labyrinthiformes. Historie naturelle des poissons. Vol. 7: i-xxix. p. 531.
  8. ↑ Kullander, S. O. (1986). Cichlid fish of the Amazon River drainage of Peru. Stockholm, Sweden: Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Research Division, Swedish Museum of Natural History. p. 394.
  9. ↑ McCulloch, A. R. (1916-10-31). Report on some fish obtained by the F. I. S. "Endeavour" on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part IV. Biological Results Endeavour. Vol. 4. pp. 169–199.
  10. ↑ Allen, Gerard R.; R. Swainston (1988). The marine fish of north-western Australia: a field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, Australia: Western Australian Museum. p. 201.
  11. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Ogcocephalidae" in FishBase . January 2009 version.
  12. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Dactylopterus volitans" in FishBase . January 2009 version.
  13. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Drepane punctata" in FishBase . January 2009 version.
  14. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Aluterus monoceros" in FishBase . January 2009 version.
  15. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2009). "Monodactylus argentus" in FishBase . January 2009 version.
  16. ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). Species of Platax in FishBase . April 2013 version.
  17. ↑ Paleobiology Database
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