| Family: |
Platycephalidae (Flatheads) |
| Max. size: |
50 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 15 - 95 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Madagascar and Gulf of Oman; northern Indian Ocean; Indonesia, Gulf of Thailand, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), northwest shelf of Australia and New Caledonia. Recently reported from Tonga (Ref. 53797). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-12. Lower edge of preopercle projecting downward as a strong antrorse spine. Infraorbital and suborbital ridges bearing many fine serrations. Lower side of head unicarinate. Dorsal fin usually 11. Iris lappet bilobed. Caudal fin with a white basal band, a broad dusky submarginal band and a narrow white edge.
Description: Characterized by brown color; 3-4 dark brown to blackish bars/saddles on back and sides; first dorsal fin blackish with white and black bands on spines; black spots on second dorsal fin; base of pectoral fin white with black spots on central portion; black spots on pectoral fins and white outer margin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Benthic on sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 30573). Usually caught with trawls to depths of about 80 m (Ref 90102). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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