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There are three species commonly seen in Indonesia, the orbiculate (Platax orbicularis), the round-faced (P. Hera) and the pinnate (P. pinnatus). As adults, orbiculate and round-faced bat-fish are almost impossible to distinguish. The pinnate batfish can be recognized by its long snout.

As juveniles, the fish are very different in shape, with greatly elongated dorsal and ventral fins. Juvenile orbiculate batfish are mottled brown and have a transparent tail, which—together with their habit of floating on their sides in the shallows—allows them to match a dead leaf. Juvenile round-faced batfish are black and white and have long fins.

The most beautiful as a juvenile is P. pinnatus, which has a band of electric orange all around its body and fins. This juvenile, sometimes called the orange-rimmed batfish, is thought to mimic a toxic flatworm.

Butterflyfishes. The butterflyfishes (family Chaetodontidae) are beautiful, delicate looking fish that feed on small benthic animals. Some species feed heavily on coral polyps. They have laterally compressed bodies, and snouts and teeth adapted to their particular feeding habits, enabling them to pick up their preferred prey deftly. In particularly, the long-nosed butterflyfishes (Forcipiger) have long, thin mouths perfect for snatching small animals from cracks and crevices in the reef. These bright yellow fish will be seen hovering under overhangs in the reef, sometimes even upside down.