Animal Species:Longfin Batfish, Platax pinnatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Longfin Batfish is silver-grey to brown with a dark bar through the eye and another through the pectoral fins. The dorsal and anal fins are greatly elongated.

Alternative Name/s

Batfish, Butterfly-fish, Leaf-fish, Pinnate Batfish, Shaded Batfish, Sunfish, Turbot

Identification

The Longfin Batfish is silver-grey to brown with a dark bar through the eye and another through the pectoral fins. It has a protruding snout. Juveniles are black. The body and median fins are outlined in orange. The dorsal and anal fins are greatly elongated.

Size range

The species grows to 35 cm in length.

Distribution

The Longfin Batfish occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific. In Australia it is known from off central Western Australia, around the north of the country and south to the central coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Pygoplites diacanthus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Longfin Batfish specimens in the Australian Museum

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species occurs in inshore and coral reef waters.

Classification

Species:
pinnatus
Genus:
Platax
Family:
Ephippidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Longfin Batfish, Platax pinnatus, Ephippidae, silver, grey, brown, 30 cm - 1 m, pelagic, marine, adult,