Family

Common name: Batfish

Scientific name: Ogcocephalidae

The Ogcocephalidae family, commonly known as batfish, includes unique, bottom-dwelling marine fish that are often prized in the aquarium trade for their unusual shape and behavior. These fish have adapted to a benthic lifestyle, with pectoral fins that resemble limbs, allowing them to 'walk' along the substrate. They are generally peaceful but can grow quite large, making them suitable for spacious tanks with plenty of open sand area. Batfish are not reef-safe as they may nibble on corals and sessile invertebrates. They require a varied diet including meaty foods and are known for their slow, deliberate movements.

  1. Common name: pancake batfish
    Scientific name: Halieutichthys aculeatus
  2. Red lips, batfish, Ogcocephalus darwini, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
    Common name: Galápagos batfish
    Scientific name: Ogcocephalus darwini
  3. Longnose Batfish in Belize Barrier Reef
    Common name: longnose batfish
    Scientific name: Ogcocephalus nasutus