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Northern Rock Flathead Cymbacephalus staigeri (Castelnau, 1875)
[CAAB 37 296042]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Coastal waters of northern Australia from Shark Bay (Western Australia) to Brisbane (New South Wales), including Christmas Island; also occurs in Papua New Guinea. Demersal on shallow rocky coastal areas to at least 58 m, most commonly in <10 m depth.

Size:

Maximum length at least 51 cm.

Food and feeding:

Presumably primarily piscivorous, also large benthic crustaceans.

Characteristics:

D. IX or I, VIII, 11. A. 11. C. 11. P. 20-22 (usually 20 or 21). V. I, 5. LL. (pored) 51-54 (usually 52 or 53).

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length 35-37% SL), moderately depressed, prominent ridges smooth, terminating in strong spines; suborbital ridge mostly smooth with two spines below eye; supraorbital ridge smooth anteriorly, with several spines posteriorly; no preorbital spines; a single preocular spine present; lower edge bicarinate; eyes large (17-21% HL), iris lappet cirrose; no dermal papillae on upper eye; anterior nostril with a short tentacle, no nasal spines; a deep, prominent pit behind upper eye; mouth large, extending to or just behind level of anterior margin of eye; teeth very small, in two parallel bands on vomer, in a narrow band on each palantine, no greatly enlarged canines; two short, subequal preopercular spines at angle of preopercle; gill rakers on first gill arch usually 6; interopercular flap present, lobate. Scales small, finely ctenoid, covering body and most of head; lateral line scales similar to adjacent scales on side, 59-71 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, anterior 1 or 2 scales with a weak spine, single pored. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine well developed, third spine longest. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, lower than longest dorsal spines, subequal in length. Anal fin similar in shape, commencing just posterior to second dorsal-fin origin, rays lower than second dorsal-fin rays and increase in size posteriorly. Caudal fin rounded. Pectoral fins broadly rounded. Pelvic fins long, based below centre of pectoral fins, almost or just reaching anal-fin origin, inner ray branched.

Colour:

Blackish or brownish dorsally, sharply demarcated from lower coloration, with 6 or 7 distinct dark cross bands extending to lateral line, a series of dark blotches on lower side and cheek; whitish ventrally. First dorsal fin with a broad submarginal dark band which broadens posteriorly; second dorsal fin dusky; caudal fin mottled with pale streaks and dark blotches; anal fin with a series of large brown blotches; pectoral and pelvic fins with small brown spots.

Fisheries:

Taken by trawlers operating in depths of 15-46 m, but most commonly found in shallower waters.

Other common names:

Black-freckled Flathead, Blotched Flathead.

Original citation:

Platycephalus staigeri Castelnau, 1875, Research. Fish. Australia 2: 17, Queensland, Australia.

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. (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.