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Longsnout Flathead Thysanophrys chiltonae Schultz, 1966
[CAAB 37 296034]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Continental shelf of northeastern Australia from about Gladstone northward to Torres Strait, reports westward to Exmouth require confirmation. Recorded internationally from the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Malaysia, Indonesia, Ryukyu Islands, Philippines, and from the Mariana and Marshall islands to the Marquesa Islands. Demersal on sandy substrate in bays and coastal waters to depths of about 50 m.

Size:

Maximum length at least 22 cm, commonly to 16 cm TL.

Characteristics:

D IX, I,VIII, or I,VII, 11-12 (usually 11); A 12; P 19-22 (usually 20 or 21); V I, 5; Llat 50-54 (usually 52 or 53).

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length ~38% SL), moderately depressed, preorbital spines 1-3; preocular spine 1; supraorbital ridge smooth over anterior half of eye, with serrations posteriorly; suborbital ridge with about 6 or 7 spines; eyes large (~19-24% HL), least interorbital width 3.8-7.2 times in greatest eye diameter; teeth on vomer in 2 separate patches; preopercular spines 3, upper longest, accessory spine usually absent; interopercular margin incised, forming a broad lobe; total gill rakers on first gill arch 5-7 (usually 6). Scales small, finely ctenoid dorsally, cycloid below, covering body and most of head behind eyes; lateral line scales slightly smaller than adjacent scales on side, oblique scale rows slanting downward above lateral line about equal to number of lateral-line scales; lateral-line scales 50-54 (usually 52 or 53), anterior 1-3 (usually 3) lateral-line scales bearing a small spine. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine very short, detached, following spines much longer. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, anterior rays longest, nearly as long as longest first dorsal spines. Anal fin opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded. Pectoral fins moderately small. Pelvic fins long, extending past anal fin origin; based below centre of pectoral fins.

Colour:

Light tan, mottled with numerous white spots dorsally, whitish below, 5-7 brown bands across back; lips with alternating white and brown bands; a broad brown suborbital bar present. Caudal fin with weak brown bars; pectoral fin with numerous dark spots forming weak bars; pelvic fin with 3-5 brown bars.

Fisheries:

May be taken in trawls or on hook and line.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

None.

Original citation:

Thysanophrys chiltonae Schultz, In Schultz et al., 1966, Bull. U. S. Natl. Mus. 202(3): Rongelap I., Rongelap Atoll, Marshall Islands.

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.