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Starry Batfish
Halieutaea stellata Vahl, 1797
A Starry Batfish trawled in 1986, at a depth of 220 m, north of Townsville, Queensland. Photo: S. Reader © Australian Museum.
Underside of the fish in the upper image after preservation. (AMS I.25803-022). Photo: M. McGrouther © Australian Museum.
Fishes in the genus Halieutaea have the head expanded into a flat, circular disc. The upper surface has scales modified into spiny tubercles.
These fishes have a fleshy lure (the esca) on the snout. The esca is positioned within a bony recess called the illicial cavity.
The pectoral fins project laterally at the rear of the disc. The pelvic fins are located on the under side of the disc (lower image).
The Starry Batfish is usually red to pink dorsally with fine black or grey spots forming crescentic patterns. The pectoral, caudal and dorsal fins are red, usually with black margins.
This species grows to a maximum length of 30 cm.
It is a bottom-dwelling fish which occurs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific.
Related links:
- View the family Ogcocephalidae list
Further reading
- Bradbury, M.G. 1967. The Genera of Batfishes (Family Ogcocephalidae). Copeia. 2:399-422.
- Gloerfelt-Tarp, T & P.J. Kailola. 1984. Trawled Fishes of southern Indonesia and north-western Australia. Jakarta: Directorate General of Fisheries (Indonesia), German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Pp. 406.
- Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, G.R. Allen & J.E. Hanley. 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol.7 Pisces Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Survey. Pp. i-xii, 1-665.
- Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J, & G.G. Leyland. 1985. Continental Shelf Fishes of northern and north-western Australia. An illustrated Guide. CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research. Pp. 375.
