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Smalleye Flathead Cymbacephalus bosschei (Bleeker, 1860)
[CAAB 37 296031]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Inshore and continental shelf waters of the Indo-West Pacific; in northern Australia, from Exmouth Gulf (Western Australia) to Moreton Bay (Queensland); elsewhere, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Borneo and Singapore. Demersal on soft bottoms and reef flats in coastal waters to depths of 50 m.

Size:

Maximum length at least 44 cm.

Food and feeding:

Presumably primarily piscivorous, also large benthic crustaceans.

Characteristics:

D IX or I, VII, I, 11-13 (usually 12); A 12 or 13; P 18-21 (usually 19 or 20); V I, 5; C 9-11; Llat (pored) 51-55 (usually 52 or 53).

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length 29-31% SL), moderately depressed; bony ridges smooth anteriorly, with a few small spines posteriorly, suborbital ridge with one small spine behind eye (often absent in adults); a single preocular spine present; lower edge bicarinate; eyes relatively small (14-16% HL), iris lappet semicircular and very cirrose, no dermal papillae on upper eye; no pit behind eye; mouth large, extending to or just behind level of anterior margin of eye; teeth small, villiform, in two separate patches on vomer, in elongated bands on palantines, no greatly enlarged canines; usually two (rarely 3) short, subequal preopercular spines at angle of preopercle; gill rakers on first gill arch 6 or 7 (usually 6); interopercular flap present, broad with shallow incisions. Scales small, finely ctenoid, covering body and most of head; lateral line scales similar to adjacent scales on side, 55-68 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, anterior 0-2 scales with a weak spine, single pored. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine very short, longest spines longer than second dorsal-fin rays. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, rays longer than anal-fin rays. Anal fin similar in shape, commencing just posterior to second dorsal-fin origin. Caudal fin broadly rounded. Pectoral fins short and rounded. Pelvic fins long, based below centre of pectoral fins, extending just beyond anal-fin origin.

Colour:

Brownish to greenish fawn dorsally with mottling of dark brown blotches, sometimes with white to faint brown spots anteriorly; light tan ventrally; lower lip with about 4 dark brownish bars. Caudal fin with a large elongate dark blotch on upper and lower margins, dark brown spots forming vertical bands on rest of fin; dorsal, pectoral and pelvic fins with small brown spots; anal fin light tan anteriorly, dark brown posteriorly.

Fisheries:

Taken occasionally by trawls, spear fishing and with ichthyocides.

Other common names:

Smalleyed Flathead, Fine-spotted Flathead, Small-eyed Flathead.

Original citation:

Platycephalus bosschei Bleeker, 1860, Natuurkd. Tijdschr. Neder. Indië 21: 140, Muntok, Bangka, Indonesia.

References:

Beaufort, L.F., De & Briggs, J.C. (1962) The Fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. XI. Brill, Leiden. 481 pp.

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 (15 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.

Knapp, L.W. (1999) Family Platycephalidae, flatheads, pp. 2385-2421. In: K.E. Carpenter & V.H. Niem (eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4: Bony Fishes Part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

McCulloch, A.R. (1914) Report on some fishes obtained by the F. I. S. "Endeavour" on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-western Australia. Part II. Biol. Results "Endeavour" 2(3): 77-165.

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.