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Ogcocephalus radiatus
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Ogcocephalus radiatus
The Polka-dot Batfish
Background
The Ogcocephalus radiatus or polka-dot batfish is a bottom dwelling fish that can measure up to 15 inches from head to tail. It has round pectoral fins that it uses to "walk" around on the sea floor. The polka-dot batfish is closely related to the short-nosed batfish, but the polka-dot batfish, unlike the short-nose batfish, has small spots on it's pectoral fin, thus giving it it's name.
Reproduction
Habitat
Not much is known about their reproduction, but since sighting have not reduced in the past couple years, we know that they have steady breeding pattern and are at least keeping themselves alive.
Polka-dot bat fish lives on the seafloor off the Atlantic coast from about North Carolina down to Florida. They also live off the Bahamas and in some parts of Mexico. They live in shallow water and the deepest they will go is 70 meters.
References
http://www.untamedscience.com/biodiversity/red-lipped-batfish/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogcocephalus_radiatus
http://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/polkadot-batfish/2042
http://www.fish-fishes.com/salt_water_fish/batfish.html
Predators and Prey
The bat fish eats worms, juvenile fish, crabs, shrimps, and mollusks. The batfish hides in the sand and wiggles its pectoral fin, moving the sand and using the attracting chemical in its pectoral fin to attract their prey. When near, the batfish uses it's circular mouth to eat the prey. To escape predators, the batfish buries itself in the sand or scuries away using its pectoral fins.
Taxonomy
The polka dot bat fish is classified as:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lophiiformes
Family: Ogcocephalidae
Genus: Ogcocephalus
Species: Radiatus
There are many species of bat fish other than the polka dot.
Threats
The polka dot bat fish do not have any special threats. They are not over fished because they are not eaten and are rarely caught in net because they live on the seafloor. Their only threat is predators.