Batfishes

Scientific name : Ephippidae

Small but interesting family including few genera, whose one (Platax) is common on Indo-Pacific reefs. Named bat fish or spade fish due to their shape. Easy to observe, often they allow the divers very close, it can be difficult to identify the 5 common species in our area.
Medium size fish, with very deep and compressed body shape, dorsal and anal fins strongly symmetrical. Small mouth, hard brush like teeth arranged on many parallel rows. The colour of the adults is always silvery-grey, with dark bands on the head area and over the eye. Juvenile forms have various colour pattern, often mimic.
Commonly swimming in open water in the proximity of the reef, found in any environments. Some species can live in schools. Eggs are released in the Plankton. They feed on algae, benthic invertebrates and some planktonic (Jellyfish).
The general body shape recalls a large angel fish or butterfly fish, but usually they are identified by the silvery colour.