Common names: batfish (English), pez-murciélago (Espanol)
 
Ogcocephalus porrectus Garman, 1899

Cocos batfish


Head depressed but elevated above disk; disc triangular; snout pointed, with a horn-like rostrum (short to very long) projecting well forward before eyes, a mass of long hairs on tip of horn; fish-lure with 3 fleshy points, in a small cavity under horn; spine at lower rear corner of operculum blunt or little developed; gill rakers are oval plates covered with small teeth; eyes on sides of head; gill opening high, above pectoral fin base; pectoral and pelvic fins limb-like, pectorals completely separated from body;  skin covered dorsal fin on tail, small fleshy anal fin under tail; skin with many large protruding, bony spines; fringe of hairs along lower side, from mouth to base of tail fin; underside of body completely covered with pointed, bony scales underside of tail densely covered with small prickles, with sometimes a few conical spines along midline.

Upper back pale brown; a pair of large dark blotches on nape, several smaller blotches on mid-side pale bar under eye; orange red to creamy white along ventral surface; mouth red.


Size: 16 cm.

Habitat: rocky and sandy bottoms.

Depth: 35-150 m.

Cocos and Malpelo only.

Note: The population at Malpelo may represent a separate, undescribed species.