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Greenspotted Flathead Bembras megacephala Imamura & Knapp, 1998
[CAAB 37 296049]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Known from northern and northwestern Australia, from north of Port Hedland to northeast of Bathurst Island and Melville Island. Also recorded from off Lombok, Indonesia. Demersal on the outer continental shelf and upper slope at depths of about 150-280 m.

Size:

Maximum length about 23 cm SL.

Characteristics:

D XI-I, 11; A 15; C (branched) 13-14; P 20; V I, 5; Llat 54-55.

Body elongate, subcylindrical. Head elongate (length 38-41% SL), bearing numerous spines; eyes small (25-27% HL); iris lappet, ocular and interopercular flaps absent; supraorbital with 8-10 spines on posterior 2/3; suborbital with 5 spines; vomerine teeth in a broad inverted ‘V' shape; four preopercular spines, uppermost longest (not bearing a supplementary spine), lowermost smallest; gill rakers on upper limb of first gill arch 2-4 (usually 3 or more), 10-12 rakers on lower. Body scales small, deciduous; lateral line scales slightly larger than adjacent scales on side; 54-55 lateral line scales, anterior 4-5 with a distinct spine; 77-84 oblique rows of scales above lateral line slanting downward and forward. First dorsal fin spinous, first spine not significantly shorter than other dorsal spines, broadly attached to second spine. Second dorsal fin base subequal in length to first. Anal fin similar in shape, opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin upper lobe rear margin slightly rounded. Pectoral fins about equal in length to caudal fin.

Colour:

In preservative: Head and body bright orange-yellow, with irregular fine lime-green spots, pale ventrally. Caudal fin with 3-4 dark green bars, the last a submarginal dusky crescent shape; pectoral yellow, grading to pink distally, with lime and pearly green checks over lower half; pectoral fin white basally, stippled brown; pelvic and anal fins white. Dorsal fins with 3-4 series of small spots, first fin lacking large dusky anterodorsal spot; lime basally, grading to charcoal marginally.

Fisheries:

May be caught incidentally.

Other common names:

None.

Original citation:

Bembras megacephala Imamura & Knapp, 1998, Ichth. Res. 45(2): off Port Headland, northwestern Australia.

References:

Eschmeyer, W.N. (2008) The Catalogue of Fishes on-line. (California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco) Available from: http://www.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp (10 March, 2008).

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. (2006) Fishes. In: P.L. Beesley & A. Wells (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 35. Parts 1-3. Australian Biological Resources Study and CSIRO Publishing, 2248 pp.

Imamura, H. & Knapp, L.W. (1998) Review of the genus Bembras Cuvier, 1829 (Scorpaeniformes: Bembridae) with description of three new species collected from Australia and Indonesia. Ichth. Res. 45(2): 165-178.

Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J. & Leyland, G.C. (1985) Continental Shelf Fishes of Northern and North-Western Australia. Canberra, C.S.I.R.O. Division of Fisheries Research, 375 pp.