Essential Information on the Red-lipped Batfish
A fascinating creature to observe on your Galápagos cruise is the unique Red-Lipped Batfish. This peculiar fish can be found at depths of 50 to over 300 feet (15 to 100+ meters) and can grow up to about 10 inches (25 cm) long.
Batfish prefer sandy or rubbly seabeds, using their specially adapted pectoral fins to 'walk' across the ocean floor, an unusual behavior for a fish.
While they mostly reside on the seabed, they occasionally surface and are also found on the edges of reefs. They are primarily located in the west and south of the archipelago due to their preference for colder waters.
As an angler fish, the Red-Lipped Batfish has a fleshy growth on its head called an illicium, which it uses to attract prey such as small crustaceans, mollusks, and little fish.
Whether you are diving or snorkeling on a Galápagos cruise, you can spot the Batfish by its grey back, often marked with a brown line of dots running from head to tail. Its most distinctive feature, however, is its striking blood-red lips, which give it its name. Many cruise guests say it looks like the fish is wearing bright lipstick!
