longfin batfish; teira batfish
A species of batfish (Platax teira) with a distinctive disc-like body and long fins, found in the Indo-Pacific. The Japanese name means 'swallow fish', likely from its wing-like fins.
I saw a school of teira batfish at the aquarium.
Teira batfish are known for mimicking dead leaves when they are juveniles.
Rare alternate name for flying fish (トビウオ). This usage is uncommon and may cause confusion; トビウオ is the standard term.
See also: 飛魚
In some regions, flying fish are apparently called ツバメウオ.
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
Rarely used kanji form; the kanji literally mean 'swallow fish', referring to the shape.
Compound of ツバメ (swallow) and ウオ (fish), referring to the wing-like fins that resemble a swallow in flight. The kanji form 燕魚 directly reflects this meaning.