Brazilian Batfish

Ogcocephalus vespertilio has a very elongate rostrum which are also present in O. corniger and O. pumilus, but these species have lower pectoral fin ray counts. The flattened head and body of this fish, referred to as the "disc", is made up of the head and the body as far as the "axilla" of the pelvic fins; the forward edge of the disc is made up of the extended bones of the operculum sweeping backwards from the cranium and surrounding the trunk on either side. The horn-like rostrum on the snout varies from short to long and projects far beyond the eyes. The esca has 3 fleshy points and is kept on a small illivial cavity which is located under the rostrum. There is a spine at the angle of the operculum which is blunt or small, or to may be large but has no spinules. The gill rakers are oval-shaped plates with a covering of small "teeth". The eyes are on the sides of the head. The gill openings are small and are located to the rear of the upper bases of the pectoral fin. The pectoral and pelvic fins are resemble limbs and the pectoral fins are wholly separate from body. Thee small dorsal and anal fins are covered in skin and are located on the upper and lower surfaces of the tail. The dorsal surface of the body has scales that resemble large bucklers and conical spines. …

Ogcocephalus vespertilio is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean along the coast of South America from Suriname in the north to Buenos Aires in the south. It occurs at depths between 24 and 66 m (79 and 217 ft) on soft substrates on the continental shelf, even entering the lower parts of estuaries. A specimen of this batfish was found in pure freshwater between 1,300 and 1,400 km (810 and 870 mi) upstream from the mouth of the Amazon.