Flat silver fish with a round body, and black and yellow vertical bands.

Round batfish

Platax orbicularis
Where at Shedd?
Wild Reef
Diet Small fish, invertebrates and algae
Size Length: Up to 23.6 inches (60 cm)
Type Fishes
Range Lagoons, channels and deep shipwrecks in the Indian and West-Central Pacific Oceans. Introduced to Florida, United States
Habitat Round batfish live in open waters over sandy areas of deep lagoons, channels, and seaward reefs

Did you know?

  1. During the day juvenile round batfish can mimic the movement, color and shape of leaves floating on the water to feed.
  2. At night, juveniles switch feeding strategies and actively hunt and ambush small animals.
  3. As its name suggests, the round batfish develops a shape similar to a bat as an adult. Do you think it looks like a bat?

IUCN Red List Conservation Status