Photograph by Scott Tuason

These Teira Batfish, family Ephippididae, were photographed in the Philippines and feature here in a very atmospheric marine scene - notice the silhouette of a shipwreck in the background.

Solitary juvenile batfish occur in inner lagoons and mangrove swamps where they closely resemble drifting leaves. Subadults school in deeper sandy channels and lagoons. Large adults inhabit open water over sandy areas of deep lagoons, channels, and outer reef slopes to depths of 30 m or more. Batfish feed on algae, small fishes, and invertebrates.

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