Pinnate Batfish

Platax pinnatus

Pinnate Batfish

Platax pinnatus

Other Common Names
Spadefish, Longfin Batfish, Shaded Batfish, Dusky Batfish

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Spadefish, Longfin Batfish, Shaded Batfish, Dusky Batfish

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

Adult pinnate batfish are a dull silver color with short fins. They have black pelvic fins and yellow pectoral and caudal fins. Their dorsal, anal and caudal fins also have a thick black outline. Juveniles are all black with very tall fins (image below). They have a bright orange stripe that spans their entire body and outlines their head and fins. Pinnate batfish can grow up to 50 cm.

Habitat

Coastal reefs and seaward slopes to depths of at least 20 m.

Diet

Benthic invertebrates and zooplankton

Life History

Like other members of the Ephippidae family, the pinnate batfish is a pelagic spawner. This means that eggs and sperm are released into the water during spawning. Eggs drift in ocean currents and once they hatch the larvae continue to develop in the water column. Eventually they will grow into juveniles and settle out of the water column.

Little juveniles live in shallow protected bays while larger and older juveniles live in caves along coastal slopes and drop-offs. As pinnate batfish age, a broad pale band develops over their sides and widens, while fin heights become smaller and more triangu;ar. Adults are sometimes seen alone on reefs but they usually form schools. The pinnate batfish is a member of the genus Platax and members can live up to 20 years.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Pinnate batfish are common in fish markets, particularly in the Philippines. The pinnate batfish helps maintain balance in reef ecosystems by eating a variety of invertebrates and other organisms, as well as being prey for larger fish.

From Indonesia to the Philippines and New Guinea, north to the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, and south to Australia and New Caledonia.

This animal is not native to the Oregon Coast, however is found in the larger Pacific Ocean. It lives in the Aquarium as part of our Connected Coasts gallery.

Juveniles mimic the shape, color and movement of toxic polyclad flatworms, which have a bad taste and are often left alone by predators. Their behavior and appearance helps young pinnate batfish avoid predators.

Citations & Other Resources

Bucol, A., J.P. Cabasan, M. Santos & K.E. Carpenter. 2024. Platax pinnatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024.

Kuiter, R. H. 1997. Guide to sea fishes of Australia. New Holland, Frenchs Forest, Australia.

Leu, M.-Y., K.-Y. Tai, P.-J. Meng, C.-H. Tang, P.-H. Wang, and K. S. Tew. 2018. Embryonic, larval and juvenile development of the longfin batfish, Platax teira (Forsskål, 1775) under controlled conditions with special regard to mitigate cannibalism for larviculture. Aquaculture 493:204–213.

Myers, R. F. 1989. Micronesian reef fishes: a practical guide to the identification of the coral reef fishes of the tropical central and western Pacific. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Territory of Guam, U.S.A.

Pinnate Batfish

Pinnate Batfish

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

Contact Us

Subscribe to E-Newsletter

About Oregon Coast Aquarium