#ephippidae

[herpsandbirds]

Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus), juvenile, family Ephippidae, order Acanthuriformes, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

The juveniles of this species mimic a toxic flatworm.

photograph by DiveIvanov

[herpsandbirds]

Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus), juvenile, family Ephippidae, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

It is believed that these juvenile fish, which look nothing like the adults, mimic poisonous flatworms.

photograph by Byron Conroy

[drhoz]

A member of a batfish school takes offense at the camera

[drhoz]

#1568 - Platax teira - Roundfaced Batfish

Second photo, of a juvenile, from Wikipedia. First is mine of a sub-adult. 

A large spadefish (Fam. Ephippidae) native to warmer coastal areas in the Indo-West Pacific, and invasive in the Western Med. In Australia they’re found from the SW corner of WA, and all the way north and around to the south coast of New South Wales. 

Very young juvenile batfish resemble brown decaying leaves, but as the mature the fins become more and more vertically elongated, even more than in the photo at top. Juveniles usually school together under the watchful eye of a matriarch, but adults seem to be more solitary. 

Can be kept in marine aquaria, but are vulnerable to harassment when young, and grow rapidly to 60cm in size. 

[astronomy-to-zoology]

Pinnate Batfish (Platax pinnatus)

Also known as the dusky, shaded or red-faced batfish, the Pinnate Batfish is a species of spadefish (Ephippidae) that is native to the Western Pacific. Pinnate Batfish typically inhabit coastal habitats and can be seen in both shallow and deeper areas. P. pinnatus is an omnivore and will feed on a wide range of small marine invertebrates and algae.

Juvenile Platax pinnatus differ greatly from their adult counterparts and are instead an orange and black color. This is thought to be a mimic of poisonous flatworms.

Classification

Animalia-Chordata-Actinopterygii-Perciformes-Ephippidae-Platax-P. pinnatus

Images: Citron and David Harasti

[funnywildlife]

Bat Fish - Spade Fish by SharonDow on Flickr.