Orbicular batfish

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Orbicular batfish

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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.

Taxonomy

The orbicular batfish was first formally

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.

total length of 60 cm (24 in).[2]

Juvenile

Distribution and habitat

Orbicular batfish are native to 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

aquarium trade with most of the fish in the trade originating in Indonesia and the Philippines.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T190152A53937753.en
    . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f 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. 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d Bray, D.J. (2020). "Platax orbicularis". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 6 Apr 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Platax orbicularis.
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