The orbicular batfish (Platax orbicularis), also known as the cooper batfish, circular batfish, orbiculate batfish, round batfish, narrow-banded batfish or orbic batfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ephippidae, the spadefishes and batfishes. This species is found in the Indo-Pacific but has been recorded outside its native range in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Taxonomy
The orbicular batfish was first formally described as Chaetodon orbicularis by the Swedish-speaking Finnish explorer, orientalist, naturalist Peter Forsskål with its type locality given as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. This species is classified within the genus Platax which belongs to the family Ephippidae in the order Moroniformes. The specific name orbicularis means "circular" or "disc-like", a reference to the round body.
Description
thumb|left|JuvenileOrbicular batfish adults have orbicular, i.e. round bodies. The body is very deep and is highly compressed. In larger adults, i.e. those with a total length in excess of have a indented snout with a bony interorbital protuberance. There are five pores on each side of the lower jaw. Both jaws have bands of thin, flattened, tricuspid teeth with the central cusp being around two times as long as the lateral cusps. There are no teeth on the roof of the mouth. The dorsal fin is supported by 5 spines and between 34 and 39 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 25 to 29 soft rays. The colour of adults is silvery grey with black vertical bars running through the pectoral fin and eye.