Red-Lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini)
Red-Lipped Batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini)
The Red-Lipped Batfish, known scientifically as Ogcocephalus darwini, is a salt-water fish with a flat, disc-like body and prominent red lips. The Red-Lipped Batfish can easily be confused with the Rosy-Lipped Batfish, but they are not the same fish. The Red-Lipped Batfish has a primarily light brown body with dark brown markings which make the red lips even more bold in contrast to its otherwise drab coloring. The Red-Lipped Batfish is usually found off the coast of the Galapagos Islands and Peru. Untalented swimmers, the Red-Lipped Batfish instead walks on the sea floor using its pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins. The Red-Lipped Batfish eats small fish and invertebrates.
It is a poor swimmer and therefore has highly sophisticated pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins to move on the ocean floor. Adult red-lipped batfish have a dorsal fin resembling a single spine-like projection. The red-lipped batfish has a back that is light brown and grayish, while the underside is white. There is also a dark brown stripe on its back, running from the head to the tail as the snout and horn are brownish.
Red-Lipped Batfish have a total length between 9.8”-15.75” (25-40 cm) and body height of 2.6”-4.3” (6.5-11 cm). The typical weight of the Red-Lipped Batfish is in the range of .7-.9 lb (.3-.4 kg). Red-Lipped Batfish have lifespans between 9-12 years.
The Red-Lipped Batfish, known scientifically as Ogcocephalus darwini, is a salt-water fish with a flat, disc-like body and prominent red lips. The Red-Lipped Batfish can easily be confused with the Rosy-Lipped Batfish, but they are not the same fish. The Red-Lipped Batfish has a primarily light brown body with dark brown markings which make the red lips even more bold in contrast to its otherwise drab coloring. The Red-Lipped Batfish is usually found off the coast of the Galapagos Islands and Peru. Untalented swimmers, the Red-Lipped Batfish instead walks on the sea floor using its pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins. The Red-Lipped Batfish eats small fish and invertebrates.
It is a poor swimmer and therefore has highly sophisticated pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins to move on the ocean floor. Adult red-lipped batfish have a dorsal fin resembling a single spine-like projection. The red-lipped batfish has a back that is light brown and grayish, while the underside is white. There is also a dark brown stripe on its back, running from the head to the tail as the snout and horn are brownish.
Red-Lipped Batfish have a total length between 9.8”-15.75” (25-40 cm) and body height of 2.6”-4.3” (6.5-11 cm). The typical weight of the Red-Lipped Batfish is in the range of .7-.9 lb (.3-.4 kg). Red-Lipped Batfish have lifespans between 9-12 years.