What is "batfish"

Batfish \Bat"fish`\, n. (Zo["o]l.) A name given to several species of fishes:

1. The Malthe vespertilio of the Atlantic coast.

2. The flying gurnard of the Atlantic ( Cephalacanthus spinarella).

3. The California batfish or sting ray ( Myliobatis Californicus.)

n. 1 Any of several anglerfish of the family (taxlink Ogcocephalidae family noshow=1) 2 Any of several spade-shaped, laterally compressed, reef-dwelling tropical fish of the genus (taxlink Platax genus noshow=1).

1. n. bottom-dweller of warm western Atlantic coastal waters having a flattened scaleless body that crawls about on fleshy pectoral and pelvic fins

2. [also: batfishes (pl)]

Batfish is a name given to several fishes:

• The California batfish or sting ray (Myliobatis californicus)
• Some members of the family Ephippidae, which are long-finned fish sometimes kept in aquariums
• Some members of the family Ogcocephalidae, such as the Pancake batfish (Halieutichthys aculeatus), Shortnose Batfish (Ogcocephalus nasutus), and Red-lipped batfish (Ogcocephalus darwini) which are bottom-swimming fish. Compare these articles Halieutichthys and Ogcocephalus
• The Chinese high fin banded shark (Myxocyprinus asiaticus), also known as the freshwater batfish

and:

• The Batfish Boys, a UK rock group who later shortened their name to Batfish