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Teira Batfish
Platax teira Forsskål, 1775
A Large school of Teira Batfish at South West Rocks, New South Wales. Photo © H. Rothenfluh & P. Zylstra. View larger image.
A 6 mm long Teira Batfish in an experimental swimming chamber at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Kenting, Taiwan. Swimming speed and endurance were investigated for of a number of fish species as part of the research of J. Leis and A. Hay. The fish were sourced from Aquaculture farmers in Pingtung County. Photo: A. Hay © Australian Museum. View larger image.
The Teira Batfish can be recognised by the dark blotch below the pectoral fin, and a second elongated dark mark above the origin of the anal fin. Viewed from the side, the body is roughly circular with a low hump on the nape.
It is silver, grey or brownish with a dark band through the eye and another level with the pectoral fin.
Juveniles have very long dorsal and anal fins that become relatively shorter as the fish grows.
It grows to 60 cm in length.
This species occurs though much of the tropical Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is found in shallow coastal habitats to deeper offshore from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Four species of batfishes (genus Platax) are recorded from Australian waters.
Related links
- Longfin Batfish fact sheet
- View the Batfishes list
- View a low resolution movie clip (63k) of this species. Go to the movies page for high and low resolution versions.
Further Reading
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 507.
