atlantic batfish
Dibranchus atlanticus
Batfish of deep muddy slope bottoms, with a flattened body. It is not caught on a rod and appears only in commercial fishing.
Also called: peixe-morcego-atlântico, peixe-morcego, atlantic batfish
- maximum
- 39 cm
- depth
- 300–823 m
who is the atlantic batfish
Batfish of the family Ogcocephalidae, with a flattened body covered in tubercles with crests of tiny spines. It reaches 39.4 cm. It lives on mud and muddy sand bottoms of the slope, at depths of 300 to 823 m, and has been found from 45 to 1,300 m. It mainly eats marine worms, amphipods, bivalve mollusks, brittle stars, sea stars and sea spiders. In fishing it is a commercially used species, of no interest to rod anglers.
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 atlantic batfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Adults that live on the bottom produce light.
identification
Flattened body covered in tubercles (the scales of this group), whose crests rise from a central spine and are fringed with tiny spines, so that each tubercle appears to have several spines. The pectoral fins are thin and firm, sturdier than those of most other species. The batimbau (Ogcocephalus nasutus) lives on shallow sand and gravel bottoms, while this species lives in deep mud, from 300 to 823 m.
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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
Lives in the western Atlantic, from the coasts of Canada and the United States to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and the Brazilian coast down to Rio de Janeiro.
Habitat: Mud and muddy sand bottoms, at depths of 300 to 823 m.
coast
rules for the atlantic batfish
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.
Not dangerous. Since it lives at great depth, the pressure change when brought up can cause barotrauma. Release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01514, b = 2.93; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). 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: Dibranchus atlanticus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Dibranchus atlanticusNames 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.
