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Platax
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<h2 id="description">Description</h2> <p>Members of the genus <i>Platax</i> are generally similar in shape to the other species in the <a href="/facts/Ephippidae/FneHHlok">family</a>. Adults are rather disc-shaped fish, with laterally compressed bodies and large dorsal and anal fins that give individuals a somewhat triangular profile. <i><a href="/facts/Platax_teira/kRttWbVQ">Platax teira</a></i> is the largest species, reaching lengths of around 70 centimetres (28 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> The other species reach maximum lengths of around 40–65 cm (16–26 in).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> It is extremely crucial for these fish to live in waters of a higher salinity percentage. This will allow for the fish to be greatly and positively impacted when it comes to their growth and survival. </p> <h2 id="distribution">Distribution</h2> <p><i>Platax</i> can be found in reefs throughout the entire <a href="/facts/Indo-Pacific/pVfP1gxV">Indo-Pacific</a> region. Their range extends from the western Indian Ocean in the <a href="/facts/Red_Sea/0dKWSgEe">Red Sea</a> to as far east as <a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq">Australia</a>. Most <i>Platax</i> species can be found in higher latitudes, as high as the <a href="/facts/Ryukyu/94rjkv8f">Ryukyu</a> Islands in <a href="/facts/Japan/U5mz0SRT">Japan</a> and as far south as the eastern coast of Australia.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> However, the ranges of the individual species is not consistent throughout the genus' range. <i><a href="/facts/Platax_pinnatus/eVSsygDe">Platax pinnatus</a></i> for example is most likely not found in the Indian Ocean.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> A few individuals have been found in <a href="/facts/Atlantic_Ocean/EI4uChIb">Atlantic</a> waters. Apparently, the species <i><a href="/facts/Platax_orbicularis/hpIlnDkd">Platax orbicularis</a></i> has been observed in <a href="/facts/Florida/cF245A3Q">Florida</a> waters as a non-native, <a href="/facts/Invasive_species/Ya1v6RGx">invasive species</a>. The <a href="/facts/Aquarium/vM9WdGKC">aquarium</a> industry has been blamed for the spread of this species into the <a href="/facts/Caribbean/zRI9aMCh">Caribbean</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> </p><p>Members of the genus are most common around <a href="/facts/Reef/eHTITdLb">reefs</a> and <a href="/facts/Shipwreck/ygsVP8pT">shipwrecks</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="taxonomy">Taxonomy</h2> <p>The genus was first used by <a href="/facts/Georges_Cuvier/4mmE7NzN">Cuvier</a> with the publication of his 1816 system of animal classification. He assigned the genus to the batfish species <i>Platax boersii</i>, a classification which still holds to this day. Another species to be assigned to the genus by Cuvier was <i><a href="/facts/Chaetodon_ocellatus/PumjV33j">Platax ocellatus</a></i>, a <a href="/facts/Butterflyfish/xlC5GhWA">butterflyfish</a> that is now more correctly classified in the genus <i><a href="/facts/Chaetodon/9vrRFyoa">Chaetodon</a></i> in Chaetodontidae. In the same work, a species that is now known to belong to the genus, <i><a href="/facts/Platax_teira/kRttWbVQ">Platax teira</a></i> was classified by Cuvier in a different genus, <i>Chaetodon teira</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> </p><p>A few species have been assigned to the genus that have since been reclassified into other <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genera</a>. The butterflyfish, <i>C. ocellatus</i> mentioned above is one of these species. Another species that has been mistakenly classified as a <i>Platax</i> is the common freshwater angelfish, <i><a href="/facts/Pterophyllum_scalare/QJhDlDUW">Pterophyllum scalare</a></i>. In a joint effort with <a href="/facts/Valenciennes/bo4u8pmM">Valenciennes</a>, Cuvier published a natural history work in 1831 where the freshwater angelfish was classified as <i>Platax scalaris</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> The freshwater angelfish, of course is not as closely related to the marine batfish as to warrant classification in the same genus.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> A more scientifically acceptable mis-classification would be that of the species <i><a href="/facts/Zabidius_novemaculeatus/SufnkUbJ">Zabidius novemaculeatus</a></i>. This species was first described as <i>Platax novemaculeatus</i> by Mcculloch when it was discovered from Australia in the early 1900s.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> The species is now classified in the genus <i><a href="/facts/Zabidius/SufnkUbJ">Zabidius</a></i>, which is still in the same <a href="/facts/Ephippidae/FneHHlok">family</a> as the genus <i>Platax</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p><p>The generic name, "platax" was coined from the <a href="/facts/Greek_language/pzDd6eIz">Greek</a> term <i>platys</i> - meaning "flat". This refers to the generally compressed body shape of the fish. They are commonly called "batfish".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> However, they are not the only fish taxon called by this name. Fish from the only distantly related family <a href="/facts/Ogcocephalidae/1gdL4f3e">Ogcocephalidae</a> are also commonly known as "batfish".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> Other families with species that have been referred to as "batfish" include the families <a href="/facts/Dactylopteridae/Am90hnPG">Dactylopteridae</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Drepaneidae/o0f6UlIU">Drepaneidae</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Monacanthidae/ja9eFmPN">Monacanthidae</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> and <a href="/facts/Monodactylidae/p5Ivk5th">Monodactylidae</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="species">Species</h2> <p>There are currently five recognized extant species in this genus:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <table><tbody><tr><th>Species</th><th>Common Name</th><th>Adult</th><th>Juvenile</th></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Platax_batavianus/nwHYLlMY">Platax batavianus</a></i><p><a href="/facts/Georges_Cuvier/4mmE7NzN">G. Cuvier</a>, 1831</p></td><td>Humpback batfish</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i>Platax boersii</i><p><a href="/facts/Pieter_Bleeker/Qu3obMnw">Bleeker</a>, 1852</p></td><td>Golden spadefish</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Platax_orbicularis/hpIlnDkd">Platax orbicularis</a></i><p>(<a href="/facts/Peter_Forssk%25C3%25A5l/IartkIWt">Forsskål</a>, 1775)</p></td><td>Orbicular batfish</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Platax_pinnatus/eVSsygDe">Platax pinnatus</a></i><p>(<a href="/facts/Carl_Linnaeus/gy5HWkHS">Linnaeus</a>, <a href="/facts/10th_edition_of_Systema_Naturae/8H6KJrLJ">1758</a>) </p></td><td>Dusky batfish</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/facts/Platax_teira/kRttWbVQ">Platax teira</a></i><p>(Forsskål, 1775)</p></td><td>Longfin batfish</td><td></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li></li></ul> <p>There are also at least four fossil species known:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p> <ul><li>†<i>Platax altissimus</i> <a href="/facts/Louis_Agassiz/W3DJ3zFN">Agassiz</a>, 1842</li> <li>†<i>Platax macropterygious</i> Agassiz, 1842</li> <li>†<i>Platax papilio</i> Agassiz, 1842</li> <li>†<i>Platax woodwardii</i> Agassiz, 1842</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> Wikimedia Commons has media related to Platax. <a href="/facts/Wikispecies/b2GhA7Le">Wikispecies</a> has information related to <i>Platax</i>. <ul><li><a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10819">Batfish may come to Great Barrier Reef's rescue. NewScientist.</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Platax". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Platax Cuvier, 1816". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 14 January 2009. <a href="https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=169541" target="_blank">https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=169541</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Randall, J. E. (1995). Coastal fish of Oman. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. p. 439. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Platax". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Myers, R. F. (1991). Micronesian reef fish (2nd ed.). Barrigada, Guam: Coral Graphics. p. 298. <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Platax". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Pickrell, John (2004-06-01). "Freed pet fish threaten native species, study says". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Archived from the original on May 28, 2004. Retrieved 2009-01-13. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20040528110631/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/05/0520_040520_aquariumescapees.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20040528110631/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/05/0520_040520_aquariumescapees.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Myers, R. F. (1991). Micronesian reef fish (2nd ed.). Barrigada, Guam: Coral Graphics. p. 298. <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Cuvier, Georges (1816). Le Règne Animal distribué d'après son organisation pour servir de base à l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée. Les reptiles, les poissons, les mollusques et les annélides. Règne Animal (ed. 1) i-xviii (1st ed.). p. 532. <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Cuvier, Georges; A. Valenciennes (April 1831). Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome septième. Livre septième. Des Squamipennes. Livre huitième. Des poissons à pharyngiens labyrinthiformes. Historie naturelle des poissons. Vol. 7: i-xxix. p. 531. <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Kullander, S. O. (1986). Cichlid fish of the Amazon River drainage of Peru. Stockholm, Sweden: Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Research Division, Swedish Museum of Natural History. p. 394. <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>McCulloch, A. R. (1916-10-31). Report on some fish obtained by the F. I. S. "Endeavour" on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part IV. Biological Results Endeavour. Vol. 4. pp. 169–199. <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Allen, Gerard R.; R. Swainston (1988). The marine fish of north-western Australia: a field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, Australia: Western Australian Museum. p. 201. <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Platax". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Ogcocephalidae". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Dactylopterus volitans". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Drepane punctata". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Aluterus monoceros". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Monodactylus argentus". FishBase. January 2009 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Platax". FishBase. April 2013 version. <a href="/wiki/Rainer_Froese" target="_blank">/wiki/Rainer_Froese</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Paleobiology Database <a href="https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=36137" target="_blank">https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=36137</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>