DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

ECOLOGY

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

VALUE OF FISH RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

DANGEROUS MARINE FISHES

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SPECIES INDEX

CHAMORRO NAMES

EPHIPPIDAE (SPADEFISHES AND BATFISHES)

Platax orbicularis (Forsskål)
(Batfish; Fanihin Tasi)
SL: to 35 cm (photo: 15 cm SL, Tepungan Channel, 4 m)

Solitary juvenile batfish occur in inner lagoons and mangrove swamps where they closely resemble drifting leaves.  Subadults school in deeper sandy channels and lagoons.  Large adults inhabit open water over sandy areas of deep lagoons, channels, and outer reef slopes to depths of 30 m or more.  Batfish feed on algae, small fishes, and invertebrates.

INDO-PACIFIC: Red Sea to the Societies, n. to the Ryukyus, s. to New Caledonia.