seadevil
Ogcocephalus vespertilio
Batfish with a very long snout, of shallow reefs, seen more in the aquarium trade than in recreational fishing. There are reports of ciguatera.
Also called: cachimbo, peixe-morcego, pez diablo narizón, seadevil
- maximum
- 30 cm
- record/max.
- 0.1 kg
who is the seadevil
Batfish of the family Ogcocephalidae, a batfish with an extremely long snout. It reaches 30.5 cm. It lives on reef bottoms, from shallow waters down to 70 m. Net-like dark markings appear on parts of the face, the sides of the tail and the base of the pectoral fins. It is used in the aquarium trade and commercial fishing, and is almost never seen in recreational fishing. There are reports of ciguatera poisoning with this species.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the seadevil; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It is sold as an aquarium fish in Ceará.
identification
Extremely long snout, which sets it apart from the batimbau (Ogcocephalus nasutus), which has a short snout and a black pectoral fin tip. It has dark spots separated by pale lines, which usually form a net pattern on parts of the face, the sides of the tail and the base of the pectoral fins.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
It lives in the Antilles and the southwestern Atlantic, from Brazil (with a record off Sergipe) to Uruguay.
Habitat: Reef bottoms, from shallow waters down to 70 m.
coast
rules for the seadevil
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
There are reports of ciguatera poisoning with this species; when in doubt, do not eat it. It is not dangerous to anglers: hold it by the body and release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02512, b = 2.88; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Ogcocephalus vespertilio (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Ogcocephalus vespertilioNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
