Shortnose batfish
These narrow face, peculiar looking fish are so rare that nothing is known about their mating period, gestation, or even their development. The batfish is a family of the anglerfish and has a lure to the top of its head. Unlike an anglerfish that has a permanent lure out lighting and a frogfish that uses vibrations to attract their prey. The batfish’s lure actually releases a chemical in the water itself to attract its prey when it extends and retracts it.
There are 60 different known species of bat fish and the one I found here in Saint Lucia was the rough back batfish. Batfish predators are few and includes large fish and sharks. Their body are hard, serving as a form of protection. The batfish’s diet however consists of crabs, shrimps, snails, worms and smaller fish. A lot is not known about the batfish but they are said to have a life span of roughly 12 years. Their habitats are mainly rubble, sandy bottoms and occasionally the coral reefs.
Rough back batfish