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Mud Flathead Ambiserrula jugosa (McCulloch, 1914)
[CAAB 37 296041]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Coastal waters of eastern Australia from Botany Bay (New South Wales) to about Bowen (Queensland). Demersal on silt bottoms in shallow coastal waters to least 54 m depth.

Size:

Maximum length at least 21 cm.

Food and feeding:

Presumably primarily piscivorous.

Characteristics:

D IX or I, VIII, 11 or 12 (usually 11); A 11 or 12 (usually 11); C 12 or 13; P 21 or 22; V. I, 5; Llat. (pored) 52-55 (usually 52 or 53).
Body elongate, moderately depressed. Head large (length 38-39% SL), moderately depressed, lower edge bicarinate; eyes large (22-25% HL), iris lappet with crenate or short branches; mouth large, rear edge reaching to slightly posterior of front edge of eye; teeth very small, slightly larger and in two separate patches on vomer, a narrow band on each palantine; usually three preopercular spines, upper and middle spine short, lower small and accessory; supraorbital ridge serrate, with small spines clustered posteriorly; a series of small preorbital spines present; preocular spines usually clustered, with one larger spine and several smaller spines around its base; suborbital ridge with numerous small serrations; interopercular flap truncated, tongue-shaped; 6 gill rakers on first gill arch rudimentary; anterior nostril with a short tentacle. Scales moderately large, finely ctenoid, covering body and most of head behind eyes; lateral line scales raised but not larger than adjacent scales on side, anterior 10-25 with a small spine or ridge, pores with 2 openings; oblique rows of scales above lateral line about equal to number of lateral-line scales. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine very short, separated, following spines longer but weak, third longest. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, second ray longest, others decreasing in length. Anal fin similar in shape, commencing just posterior to second dorsal-fin origin, rays shorter than dorsal rays and increasing in length posteriorly. Caudal fin broadly rounded. Pectoral fins large, broadly rounded, posterior margin not falcate. Pelvic fins long, based below centre of pectoral fins.

Colour:

Brown or grey dorsally; 4 or 5 dark blotches on side of head, broad dark bar below eye, lips with dark blotches; about 4 dark cross bands dorsally, lower lateral body with dark blotches and streaks; pale ventrally. First dorsal fin with a dark submarginal band, spines with dark spots; anal fin pale anteriorly, dusky posteriorly; other fins with brown spots (forming vertical bands on caudal fin).

Fisheries:

Taken only by trawlers operating in shallow coastal waters.

Other common names:

none

Original citation:

Insidiator jugosus McCulloch, 1914, Biol. Results "Endeavour" 2(3): 144, pl. 30 (fig. 2), fig. 11, off Hervey Bay, Queensland.

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 (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.