Golden Spadefish (juvenile)

Platax boersii is a species of Indo-Pacific, reef-associated fish belonging to the family Ephippidae (Batfish).

Description

Juveniles are have extremely elongate vertical fins and closely resemble juvenile P. teira, but tend to be lighter with a silvery hue. Adults have smoothly rounded head profile like P. orbicularis, but usually have golden hue and lack small black spots. Adults (above 18 cm) are yellowish silvery, usually with small, scattered black spots on body, dark bar through eye, and another bar just behind head. Median fins are yellowish green. Anal-fin margin and rear margin of caudal fin are black. Pelvic fins are black. Small juveniles are yellowish brown or silvery, with 2 black bars as in adults. Rear third of body is blackish, the black colour continued onto dorsal and anal fins, and the front of the black zone on body often closely precede by a narrow faint dark bar. Caudal fin is transparent except for black base. Jaws are with bands of slender, flattened, tricuspid teeth, the middle cusp barely longer than lateral cups.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia (including Mentawai Islands), New Guinea, and Philippines.

Habitat

Adults occur mostly in large schools along drop-offs, including outer reefs; singly in coastal waters. Juveniles are on deep slopes among tall coral formation. Benthopelagic.