Longfin Batfish

Photo: Albertini maridom · CC BY-NC

Batfish hover in small groups around the deeper reef structures at Canhabaque, characteristically stationary in the mid-water column adjacent to coral pinnacles. They are bold and curious, often approaching divers closely and shadowing them throughout a dive — behaviour that is thought to mimic following large animals to take advantage of disturbed prey. Their disc-like bodies and trailing fins make them among the most visually striking fish on the reef.