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Blog about diving in Burma and Thailand

All about the Shaded Batfish - Platax Pinnatus

12/3/2022

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Platax Pinnatus, a colorful juvenile fish

Shaded Batfish - Platax Pinnatus
​The shaded Batfish... loved by divers, he is not so easy to observe in its juvenile form, which is drastically different from its adult form.

Why is it called Shaded Batfish?

Platax pinnatus, the red platax or shaded platax, is a species of marine fish of the family Ephippidae.

​The origins of the scientific name:
​

Platax: from Greek [platos] = flat, wide
Pinnatus: from Latin [pinnatus] = which has wings, feathers, in connection with its long fins, especially in the juveniles.
Adult Batfish

Where do shaded batfish live?

Picture
Distribution of shaded batfish.
It is found in the Indo-Pacific and regularly sighted in the Andaman Sea, both in Thailand and Myanmar. Unfortunately, the juvenile stage of this species is the most stunning and only last a few months.
​Its adult counterpart is less striking/ popular with underwater photographers.


​

How to recognize Platax Pinnatus? And at what stage of its life?

Small juveniles are black with a bright orange-red border around the body and fins; fins have a scalloped outline; they swim with exaggerated movements; small juveniles are thought to mimic similar-looking flatworms.
juvenile batfish
post juvenile batfish
With age, a grey spot appears on its side, starting behind the pectoral fin; the dorsal and anal fins lengthen and become more pointed.

It is the beginning of its transformation from a black elongated juvenile to a round shaped grey adult.
school of shaded batfish
adult shaded batfish
Once adult, two black bars appear at the level of the eyes and just before the pectoral fin. The dorsal and anal fins have elongated well and are yellowing a bit. Its body is now silver. It can reach the forty centimeters

​

Batfish reproduction

The sexes are separated and there is no sexual dimorphism. Platax pinnatus is ovuliparous and the fertilization is external, in open water. The larvae are pelagic a few days then undergo their last metamorphosis and the juvenile begins its life near the bottom.

There are several types of Batfish, the most commonly encountered in Thailand and Myanmar is the Platax teira, also known as longfin batfish or longfin spadefish, but surprisingly we do not often encounter their juveniles...

If the Platax Teira is not afraid about you, it is even curious, it's not the case of the Platax Pinnatus, ​which stays away from you.
adult schooling batfish
Beautiful batfish in the blue

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Camille Fogarolo 

Camille has been traveling the world since her mid twenties and dived many seas before finally settling down in Thailand in 2012. With her husband Franck, they opened The Smiling Seahorse liveaboard to offer cruises in the most unexplored area of South East Asia and became quite the experts when it comes to diving in Myanmar! Proud mother of two she still travels as much as she can and usually joins a dive trip to Mergui Archipelago every month.

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  • When & Where
    • Schedule and Prices
    • Destinations >
      • North Andaman Thailand >
        • Similan Islands
        • Surin Islands >
          • Richelieu Rock
        • The essential Underwater photo Guide to diving Thailand
      • South Andaman Thailand >
        • Phuket & Koh Phi Phi National Parks
        • Koh Lanta National Park
        • Koh Lipe and Tarutao National Park
      • Mergui Archipelago >
        • Liveaboard diving holiday in Myanmar
        • Burma's best dive sites
        • The Ultimate Underwater photo Guide to diving Burma
  • ABOUT
    • Our Boat >
      • DELICIOUS FOOD
    • Diving in Thailand in 2024-2025
    • Diving in Myanmar/Burma in 2024-2025
    • Blackwater diving in Thailand and Myannmar
    • Marine life in Thailand's Andaman Sea
    • Marine life in Mergui Archipelago
    • Dive Courses >
      • Learn to Dive
      • Continue diving education
      • Rescue diver
      • Professional Dive Courses
      • Hone your dive skills with a specialty course
      • Photo coaching in Thailand on the Smiling Seahorse
    • Guest Book
    • FAQ
  • Plan your trip
    • Our hotels recommendations
    • Khao Sok National Park
    • Taxi services >
      • Taxi services to and from Ranong
      • Taxi services to and from Phuket
      • Taxi services to Tap Lamu and Khao Lak
    • 10 things to do around Ranong
  • PROMO
    • HOT DEALS
    • Special Expeditions >
      • 8D Special Marine Bio with Gavin Miller - 10 Nov 2025
      • 8D Whale shark expedition - 20 March 2026 - North and South
  • gallery
    • Photos
    • Videos
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
    • Most popular posts