Marked batfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marked batfish |
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The marked batfish (Ogcocephalus notatus) is a super interesting type of fish that lives deep in the ocean. It's part of a group called "deep sea batfishes" because of its unique, flattened shape that looks a bit like a bat! You can find this fish in the warm waters of the western Atlantic Ocean.
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What Kind of Fish Is It?
The marked batfish was first officially described in 1837. A French zoologist named Achille Valenciennes gave it the name Malthea notata.
This fish belongs to a larger group called anglerfishes. Anglerfishes are known for their special "fishing rod" on their heads. The marked batfish is part of the Ogcocephalus family, which includes other batfishes found in the Atlantic Ocean.
What's in a Name?
The name Ogcocephalus comes from two Greek words: ogkos, meaning "hook," and cephalus, meaning "head." This name refers to the pointed snout that some batfishes have.
The second part of its name, notatus, means "marked." This is because Valenciennes, the scientist who named it, noticed that this fish had three or four small, round, black spots near its gills.
How to Spot a Marked Batfish
The marked batfish has a very unique look!
Body Shape
Its head is quite flat, but it's a bit higher than the rest of its body, which is shaped like a triangle. It has a pointed snout that looks a bit like a shelf.
Special Lure
Like other anglerfishes, it has a special lure called an esca. This lure has three fleshy points and can be pulled back into a special pocket under its snout. It probably uses this lure to attract prey.
Fins and Scales
Its pectoral fins and pelvic fins are like little limbs, helping it move along the seafloor. The dorsal fin and anal fin are small. The dorsal fin is covered in skin and sits on its tail.
The top of its body is covered in large, shield-like scales with pointy spines. The bottom of its body has a full covering of bony, pointed scales. Even its tail is covered in tiny spines!
Color and Size
The upper part of its body is usually grayish-brown. The tips of its shield-like scales are often pale. You might see one to seven dark spots with pale edges along the sides of its body. Sometimes, there are also dark spots on its upper body and tail.
Unlike some other batfishes, the marked batfish has oval-shaped pupils, not kidney-shaped ones. This fish can grow up to about 13.4 centimeters (about 5 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
The marked batfish lives in the central western Atlantic Ocean. You can find it along the northern coast of South America, from Colombia all the way to Brazil. It also lives around islands like Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba, and Trinidad and Tobago.
This fish prefers to live on the seafloor, usually on soft bottoms like sand or mud. It can be found at depths between 15 and 172 meters (about 50 to 564 feet). Sometimes, it even lives in estuaries, which are places where rivers meet the sea.
Life and Habits
Scientists believe the marked batfish has a similar life to other batfishes.
What It Eats
It likely eats a variety of small creatures that live on the seafloor. This includes different kinds of invertebrates (animals without backbones) and even some small fishes.
Life Cycle
Deep-sea batfishes lay eggs that float in the open water. When the eggs hatch, the young fish (larvae) also float in the water. As they grow, they change into juvenile fish and then settle down onto the seafloor, where they live out their adult lives.
