Dusky batfish (Platax pinnatus)

Scientific name: Platax pinnatus Linnaeus, 1758

Dusky batfish (Platax pinnatus)

The Dusky batfish (Platax pinnatus) is a marine fish of the family Ephippidae. Native range: Western Pacific, Ryukyu Islands to Australia. Occurrence of this species in the Indian Ocean is doubtful.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 5 - 6; Dorsal soft rays (total): 34-37; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 24 - 28. Juveniles are dark brown to black with a brilliant crimson margin around the entire fish. Adults dull silver with short fins. Body orbicular and strongly compressed, its depth more than twice length of head and 0.9 to 1.3 times in SL. Head length 2.9 to 3.8 times in SL. Large adults (above 35 cm SL) with protruding snout, the front head profile distinctly concave. Interorbital width 34 to 42% head length. Jaws with bands of slender, flattened, tricuspid teeth, the middle cusp about twice length of lateral cusps. Vomer with teeth, but none on palatines. Three or 4 pores on each side of lower jaw. Preopercle smooth. Opercle without spines (Ref 43039).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Platax pinnatus
Family
Ephippidae (Spadefishes, batfishes and scats)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
45.0
Depth range
15–30 m (49–98 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 15 - 30 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Pacific: Ryukyu Islands to Australia. Occurrence of this species in the Indian Ocean is doubtful.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

More other marine fish

See all other marine fish

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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