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Twospot Flathead Onigocia bimaculata Knapp, Imamura & Sakashita, 2000
[CAAB 37 296050]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

In Australia only known from Lihou Reef, Coral Sea. Internationally recorded from the Gulf of Aqaba, Comoro Island and Mauritius to southern Japan, the Philippines, Caroline Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga, American Samoa and the Society Islands. Demersal in bays and coastal waters at depths of 3-30 m.

Size:

Maximum length at least 66 mm SL.

Characteristics:

D VIII-IX (usually VIII), 10-12 (usually 11); A 10-12 (usually 11); C 8-9 (usually 9); P 19-22 (usually 19); V I, 5; Llat (pored) 32-39 (usually 36).

Body elongate, depressed. Head large (length 33-42% SL), depressed, with several low ridges, mostly bearing spines; eyes large (10-13% SL) ocular flap absent; villiform teeth in bands on jaws and palatines, in two separate patches on vomer; tooth band on upper jaw with a distinct notch; three preopercular spines, uppermost longest; well developed interopercular flap present; gill rakers 6-9 on lower limb of first arch. Scales ctenoid, some cycloid scales ventrally; pored scales in lateral line 32-39 (usually 36), the anterior 2-4 (usually 2) scales with a distinct spine. First dorsal fin spinous, first spine short, following spines much longer. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, anterior rays longest, nearly as long as longest first dorsal spines. Anal fin similar in shape, and opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded. Pectoral fins moderately small. Pelvic fins long, based below centre of pectoral fins.

Colour:

Body light tan above, back crossed dorsally by 4 or 5 indistinct saddles. Fins mostly clear. Spinous dorsal fin bearing 2 small black spots near the margin, the largest behind the first long spine, the smallest behind the third long spine. Caudal fin bearing a faint submarginal dark band. Pelvic fin with a prominent black blotch near base on upper surface and often 2 or 3 smaller black blotches or bars distally.

Fisheries:

May be caught incidentally over coral sands.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

None known.

Original citation:

Onigocia bimaculata Knapp, Imamura & Sakashita, J.L.B. Smith Inst. Ichthyol. Spec. Publ. Minna I., Ryukyu Is., Japan.

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., Imamura, H. & Sakashita, M. (2000) Onigocia bimaculata, a new species of flathead fish (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) from the Indo-Pacific. J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology Special Publication No. 64: 1-10.