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Broadhead Flathead Sunagocia arenicola (Schultz, 1966)
[CAAB 37 296043]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Continental shelf of northern Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait, Queensland. Widespread internationally from Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Aden, Chagos Archipelago, Indonesia, Taiwan Province of China, Ryukyu Islands, Mariana and Marshall islands, Philippines, to New Caledonia and Fiji. Demersal to about 30 m.

Size:

To at least 37 cm TL, commonly to 25 cm TL.

Characteristics:

D IX or I,VIII, 11-13 (usually 12); A 11-13 (usually 12); P 19-22 (usually 21); V I, 5; Llat 50-55 (usually 52 or 53).

Body elongate, depressed. Head large (length 32-35% SL), moderately depressed; a single preocular spine; supraorbital ridge smooth over anterior half of eye, with about 4 or 5 spines posteriorly; suborbital ridge smooth anteriorly, about 4 or 5 spines posteriorly; least interorbital width 7.9-15.1% HL; teeth on vomer in two separate patches; Lips smooth, lacking papillae on edges; preopercular spines 2 or 3 (usually 3), upper longest, rarely reaching past half-way to posterior margin of opercle, not bearing a supplementary spine, Base of lower opercular spine concealed by scales; interopercular not extended anteroventrally, without lobes; total gill rakers on first gill arch 5-7 (usually 6). Oblique scale rows slanting downward and backward above lateral line about equal to number of lateral-line scales. Lateral-line scales 50-55 (usually 52 or 53), anterior 1-3 (usually 1 or 2) lateral-line scales bearing a small spine. First dorsal fin spinous with moderately long base, first spine very short, detached, following spines much longer. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, only slightly longer than first, anterior rays longest, nearly as long as longest first dorsal spines. Anal fin similar in shape, opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin slightly rounded posteriorly. Pectoral fins moderate in length, rounded posteriorly. Pelvic fin long, reaching beyond origin of anal fin.

Colour:

Dorsal head and body tan, mottled with small dark flecks, 4 or 5 vague bands across back, some specimens with a marbled pattern of small dark and light blotches dorsally; whitish ventrally. Fins with numerous small brown dots.

Fisheries:

Likely taken in trawls, or occasionally caught on hook and line.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

Sand Flathead.

Original citation:

Thysanophrys arenicola Schultz, In Schultz et al., 1966, Bull. U.S. Natl. Mus. 202: Lagoon reef at Naen I., Rongelap Atoll, western Pacific.

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.

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.

Knapp, L.W. & Imamura, H. (2004) Sunagocia sainsburyi, a new flathead fish (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) from northwestern Australia. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 117(4): 545-550.

Schultz, L. P., L. P. Woods and E. A. Lachner (1966) Fishes of the Marshall and Marianas islands. Vol. 3. Families Kraemeriidae through Antennariidae. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 202(3): 124-148.