BAT FISH
Ephippidae is the fish family containing the
spadefishes. There are about eight genera with a
total of 20 species, mostly marine. The most
well-known species are probably those in the
reef-dwelling genus Platax, the batfishes, which are
kept as aquarium fish. They are spade-shaped,
laterally compressed, and very symmetrical triangular
dorsal and anal fins. They are shiny silver with areas
of yellow and vertical brown or black banding. The
eyes are often located in one of the vertical bands as
a method of camouflage. Scuba divers sometimes
mistake them for angelfish, which are similar in shape
but not closely related. Other genera in the family are
characterized by long, trailing, pointed dorsal and
anal fins.
Some spadefishes are popular sport fishing catches.
The Atlantic spadefish (Chaetodipterus faber), for
example, is an attractive black and white
zebra-striped fish common just offshore in the
southeastern United States and Caribbean. They are
favorites because they put up a fight as they are
reeled in. Spadefish are generally considered to be
an overfished group. Most of the individuals caught
are small and young and are nowhere near the
maximum size recorded for their species.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
