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Platax teira (Forsskål, 1775)
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Platax teira (Forsskål, 1775)
  • Photo. (c) 2019 John Nevill.
  • Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
  • Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Genus: ,

Scientific Name: Platax teira

English Name: Longfin batfish

Creole Name: Pouldo

French Name: Platax à longues nageoires

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)



Information

Description:

Dorsal spines: 5-6; Dorsal rays: 28-37; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 22-28.

Body deep, strongly compressed, head profile almost vertical. Large adults (above 35 cm standard length) with bony hump from top of head to interorbital region. Jaws with 
bands of slender, flattened, tricuspid teeth. Preopercle smooth. Opercle without spines. Caudal fin truncate. Scales small and rough. Lateral line complete, with 56 to 66 
scales.Juveniles with pelvic fins and anterior soft rays of dorsal and anal fins elongated.

Colour. Body yellowish-silvery or dusky. A black or dusky bar through eye and another dark bar from dorsal-fin origin across rear edge of operculum and pectoral-fin base to 
belly where it usually encloses a black blotch, with another smaller black vertical streak often present at origin of anal fin. Median fins dusky yellow, with posterior black 
margins. Pelvic fins yellow, dusky yellow or blackish. Pectoral fins dusky. Very small juveniles are brownish and resemble floating leaves.


Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 70cm TL.


Habitat and Ecology:

Juveniles and adults occur inshore on protected reefs and in mangrove areas and also on wrecks and deep reefs (depth 3-70m). Solitary, in pairs, or in large schools. Small 
juveniles resemble leaves and shelter amongst floating debris. Larger juveniles may form schools beneath Sargassum rafts. Feed on algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates.
 


Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the hand line and net fisheries, but is an uncommon component of the catch.


Notes:

 

 


References:

Bray, D.J. (2019). Platax teira in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2210 (24/07/19).
Carpenter, K.E. & Robertson, R. (2019). Platax teira. The IUCN Red 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T54007396A54023123.en. (03/07/22).
Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984).  FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and printed with the 
support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5739 (24/07/19).


Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Platax teira, Longfin batfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/platax-teira-forsskal-1775/ (updated 03/07/22).


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