Pinnate Spadefish

Scientific Name: Platax pinnatus
Family: Spadefishes – Ephippidae
Maximum Size: 37cm
Identification: Silver; black eye bar and a second bar through pectoral and onto ventral fin; distinctive protruding snout. Young adults have a single wide dusky bar on rear body.
Favourite: Usually solitary.
Hide-out: Coastal reefs and seaward slopes in 2-25m.
Location: West Pacific – Sumatra in Indonesia to Solomon Is., Vanuatu and Fiji. S.W. Japan to N. Australia and New Caledonia.

Golden Spadefish

Scientific Name: Platax boersii
Family: Spadefishes – Ephippidae
Maximum Size: 47cm
Identification: Yellowish silver; dark to faint bar through eye and a second bar from nape to ventral fins.
Favourite: Form large schools.
Hide-out: Coastal and outer reef dropoffs in 3-30m.
Location: Asian Pacific – Red Sea to Indonesia, Philippines, Palau, New Guinea and Solomon Is. north to S.W. Japan.

Circular Spadefish

Scientific Name: Platax orbicularis
Family: Spadefishes – Ephippidae
Maximum Size: 28cm
Identification: Silver; dark to faint eye bar and a second bar from front of dorsal to ventral fin, usually few small black spots on sides.
Favourite: In pairs or groups.
Hide-out: Shoreline and outer reefs in 2-35m.
Location: Indo-Pacific – Red Sea and E. Africa to Indonesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. S.W. Japan to N.E. Australia and New Caledonia.