What kind of Spadefish is this?

[Otter]

I took this last year in Fiji. Looking through the new Reef Fish Identification - Tropical Pacific it looks to be a Spadefish,except that the tail on my fish is mostly dark whereas the others are light or a single stripe.

TIA

Spadefish Video Clip

 

[Otter]

Well at least I am not feeling dumb about no knowing the fish type. Any ideas on where else I could go with this? Maybe its a new species the "Otter Spadefish" ?

 

[adder70]

I know they are usually much taller, but some species are fairly roundish. Orbicularis type, although I think the Orbicularis has different coloring.

In fact, an ailing subject of this species

http://digilander.libero.it/scubabob/Aldabra/bat2.html

might be off color and look similar to your sighting. The Florida Museum mentions 2 Platax Orbicularis being found off the keys.

Just looked at them together. It almost has to be a lognfin bat, or Platax Tiera. It is probably off color due to illness or incompatible water chemistry.

 

[Otter]

I had considered a Batfish at first...in fact when I was there, thats what I thought it was....and promptly forgot. When I went back to the book, I found the Spadefish. I'll do some more digging.

Thanks