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Fringe-eye Flathead Cymbacephalus nematophthalmus (Günther, 1860)
[CAAB 37 296023]

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 Shark Bay (Western Australia) to Wallis Lake (New South Wales); New Georgia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Borneo, Celebes and Singapore. Demersal on rocky coastal areas and around weed beds and mangroves in depths to at least 65 m, most commonly in <5 m depth.

Size:

Maximum length at least 58 cm.

Food and feeding:

Presumably primarily piscivorous, also large benthic crustaceans.

Reproduction and early life history:

Characteristics:

D. IX or I, VIII, 11 or 12. A. 11. C. 11. P. 19-21 (usually 20). V. I, 5. LL. (pored) 51-55 (usually 53).

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length 34-36% SL), moderately depressed; bony ridges smooth anteriorly, with a few small spines posteriorly, suborbital ridge with one small spine below posterior of eye; supraorbital ridge with 4 or 5 low spines posteriorly; no preorbital spines; a single preocular spine present; lower edge bicarinate; eyes large (18-21% HL), iris lappet cirrose; usually 6-9 dermal papillae on upper eye, longest branched and extending well above supraorbital ridge; nasal spines usually present; a deep, prominent pit behind upper eye; mouth large, extending to or just behind level of anterior margin of eye; teeth very small, pointed, in two separate, longitudinal patches on vomer, in a narrow band on each palantine, no greatly enlarged canines; usually 3 preopercular spines at angle of preopercle, two upper ones short and subequal, third very small; gill rakers on first gill arch 5-7 (usually 6); interopercular margin with several, variably-sized flaps. Scales small, finely ctenoid (cycloid ventrally), covering body and most of head; lateral line scales similar to adjacent scales on side, 57-70 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, anterior 1-6 (usually 2 or 3) scales with a weak spine, single pored. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine very short, 2^nd and 3^rd spines longest. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, all rays branched, lower than first dorsal spines. Anal fin similar in shape, commencing just posterior to second dorsal-fin origin, rays lower than second dorsal-fin rays. Caudal fin slightly rounded. Pectoral fins short and rounded. Pelvic fins long, based below centre of pectoral fins, not reaching anal-fin origin, inner ray unbranched.

Colour:

Greyish green to brown dorsally with about 7 distinct dark cross bands; pale to whitish ventrally; broad dark bar below eye; lower lip with 4 dark bands. Fins mottled with dark and pale blotches, dorsal and caudal rays with short dark streaks.

Similar species:

Fisheries:

Commonly caught in trawls.

Conservation Status:

Remarks:

Other common names:

Fringe-eyed Flathead, Rock Flathead, Sammy Dong.

Original citation:

Platycephalus nematophthalmus Günther, 1860, Cat. Fishes 2: 184, Victoria River and Port Essington, Australia.

Etymology:

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).

Gloerfelt-Tarp, T. & Kailola, P.J. (1984) Trawled Fishes of Southern Indonesia and Northwestern Australia. Canberra: Australian Development Assistance Bureau, 406 pp.

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. (1973) Platycephalus beauforti, a new species of flathead (Pisces, Platycephalidae) from the western Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 86(10): 117-125.

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.