Atlantic Spadefish
Chaetodipterus faber
Humphead Batfish
Platax batavianus
About
The humphead batfish is an oval-shaped reef fish that changes dramatically as it grows, from a tall, striped juvenile to a silver, deep-bodied adult.
Also known as: batavia spadefish, batavian batfish, zebra batfish, moonfish, humped batfish, batfish, batavia batfish, hump-headed batfish, humpback batfish
How to tell it apart
Other batfish share this deep, disc-like shape. Adult humphead batfish are told apart by the dark bar around the eye on an otherwise plain silver body; striped juveniles are best told apart by their concave snout.
Appearance
Adults are silver with brown fins, an oval outline, a dark bar around the eye, and a faint bar on the back. Juveniles look quite different: brown, tall-bodied, with vertical white bars and a concave snout.
Habitat
This batfish lives on coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to the Pacific islands. It is usually alone, though pairs or small groups turn up now and then. Small juveniles shelter in deeper water among crinoids, feather-like animals related to starfish, where their striped pattern helps them blend in.
Did you know?
Striped juveniles hide among crinoids in deep water, using their zebra-like pattern to disappear against the crinoid's arms.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
