Scientific Name
Platax pinnatus  
Pronounce  
Platax pinnatus彎鰭燕魚
by: Lab of Fish Ecol. and Evo., BRCAS
Author (Linnaeus, 1758) Depth 0 - 60M
Chinese 彎鰭燕魚 Poisonous Fish No 
Family_Chinese 白鯧科 Economic Fish No 
Family F465 Ephippidae Edible Fish Yes  Chinese In Mainland China 彎鰭燕魚 
Max Length 45 cm  Aquarium Fish Yes  Common Name 蝙蝠魚、鯧仔、圓海燕、飛翼、白鯧(臺東)、圓翅燕魚 
Distribution in World Australia   Distribution in Taiwan East、South、North、North East、PonFu、ShaoLiuChew、Greeb IS. 
Habitats Coral、Benthos、Coastal、Lagoon  Holotype Locality Indies 
Synonyms Chaetodon pinnatus   
Reference 臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993);The Live Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific, Vol.6(FAO, 2001)  Randall, J. E. etc. 1971 沈世傑 編 Shih-Chieh Shen ed. 1993 
Specimen List ASIZP0060416. FRIP21565. NMMSTP00451. NTUM01581. NTUM04574. USNM00273720.  
Common Name Pinnate batfish; Pinnate spadefish; Batfish; Dusky batfish; Longfin batfish; Long-finned batfish; Longfinned batfish 
Redlist Status NL Not in IUCN Redlist     
Characteristic Body orbicular and strongly compressed. Large adults with protruding snout, the front head profile distinctly concave. Jaws with bands of slender, flattened, tricuspid teeth, the middle cusp about twice length of lateral cusps; vomer with teeth, but none on palatines. Three or 4 pores on each side of lower jaw. Dorsal fin single, with V or VI spines and 34 to 37 soft rays; anal fin with III spines and 25 to 27 soft rays; juveniles with pelvic fins and anterior soft rays of dorsal and anal fins elongated, but pelvic fins not reaching past vertical at rear end of anal-fin base; pectoral fins shorter than head, with 18 or 19 rays; caudal fin truncate. Scales small and smooth. Lateral line complete, with 44 to 53 scales. Colour in adults yellowish silvery or dusky, with a black bar through eye and another dark bar just behind head; median fins dusky yellow, with black margins posteriorly; pelvic fins black. Small juveniles black, with bright orange margin around median and pelvic fins, continued as a median stripe along front of head from dorsal fin to lips, the rear third of caudal fin clear, preceded by the orange stripe continued along upper and lower edges of fin. Larger juveniles mostly blackish brown, with orange margin around fins, the middle third of body silvery with faint vertical black streaks.
habitats Adults are generally solitary and found under overhangs of steep outer reef slopes to a depth of at least 20 m. Juveniles are encountered in mangroves and inner sheltered reefs where they seek shelter in caves or under ledges. Feeds on algae as well as je 
Distribution Widespread in the tropical and subtropical waters of the western Pacific region from the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, Taiwan to the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea, and northern Australia. It is common in waters around Taiwan. 
Utility Marketed fresh. The attractive juveniles are valuable in the aquarium fish trade.