Checklist of the marine and estuarine fishes of New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea, western Pacific Ocean, with 810 new records Author Andréfouët, Serge Author Chen, Wei-Jen Author Kinch, Jeff Author Mana, Ralph Author Russell, Barry C. Author Tully, Dean Author White, William T. text Zootaxa 2019 2019-04-23 4588 1 1 360 journal article 26780 10.11646/zootaxa.4588.1.1 8bb17a01-6ca6-4225-a42c-be3cb22e3db0 1175-5326 2988163 C7390B16-569F-46A2-A823-0018E1934873 Platax orbicularis (Forsskål in Niebuhr 1775) —Round batfish Status at New Ireland . First recorded from Carteret Harbour , New Ireland as Platax vespertilio by Peters (1877 : 836). Specimens observed at Kavieng fish market in 2004–2005 by Jeff Kinch during CFMDP Survey , and by Barry C. Russell on 14 June 2014 . A specimen photographed at Lissenung Island by Dietmar Amon on 22 Apr. 2013 , another at St. KVG22 (northeast of Lemus Island , Kavieng District ) by Serge Andréfouët on 21 Aug. 2014 ; a video of a specimen taken off Nubilus Island , off southeastern New Hanover , at 3–32 m depth, St. KR 88, in 2014 (identified by Barry C. Russell ). Distribution and habitat. New Ireland : 1, 2, 3.—General distribution: Red Sea, East and South Africa , Madagascar and western Mascarenes east to Tuamotu Archipelago, north to southern Japan , south to Western Australia, New Caledonia , and Tonga . Introduced into West Atlantic waters off Florida , USA . Found in shallow protected coastal waters to deep, somewhat silty habitats; juveniles occur singly or in small groups among inner sheltered lagoons while adults move out to open waters over sandy areas of deep lagoons, channels, and seaward coral reefs, 1–30 m depth. Transitional water and marine.