Orbicular Batfish

The Orbicular Batfish (Platax orbicularis) is a tropical, marine, and brackish-water fish often associated with reefs. It is found at depths ranging from 1 to 30 meters (about 3 to 98 feet). The maximum length for this species is approximately 60 centimeters (24 inches).

These fish have distinctive appearances depending on their age. Adults over 20 centimeters (8 inches) in length are generally silvery or dusky with yellowish hues and feature two dark vertical bars—one through the eye and another behind the head. They may have small black spots on their bodies, and their median fins are yellowish with black edges, while pelvic fins are entirely black.

In contrast, juveniles are reddish-brown with irregular black spots and small white spots edged in black. They can mimic reddish leaves, aiding in their camouflage. The caudal fin of the juveniles is mostly transparent with a reddish-brown base.

The Orbicular Batfish’s body is round and strongly compressed, with a depth that can be more than twice the length of the head and 0.9 to 1.4 times the standard length (SL). The head length is 3.4 to 3.8 times the SL. Larger adults have a concave snout profile with a bony swelling between the eyes. Their jaws possess bands of slender, tricuspid teeth.

These fish typically inhabit shallow, protected coastal waters and can also be found in deeper, silty areas, sometimes near shipwrecks. Adults are usually seen alone or in small groups, although they can form large schools in certain regions. Juveniles prefer mangroves and inner sheltered lagoons. As they mature, adults transition to open waters, dwelling over sandy areas of deep lagoons, channels, and seaward reefs. Their diet consists of algae, invertebrates, and small fish.

The Orbicular Batfish is native to the Indo-Pacific region, spanning from the 🌊 Red Sea and East Africa, including the 🌊 Persian Gulf, to the Tuamoto Islands (🇵🇫 French Polynesia), extending north to southern 🇯🇵 Japan, and south to northern 🇦🇺 Australia and 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France). It has also been recorded off the coast of 🇺🇸 Florida in the Western Central Atlantic.

The genus name “Platax” comes from the Greek word “platys,” meaning flat, which aptly describes the fish’s physical form.