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Notched Flathead Onigocia macrolepis (Bleeker, 1854)
[CAAB 37 296025]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Continental shelf of northwestern Australia, possibly extending to northeastern Australia, but occurrence records require confirmation. Also recorded from the Philippines, Indonesia, Gulf of Thailand, and Andaman Sea, Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea and South China Sea. Coastal and continental shelf waters to depths of about 130 m.

Size:

Maximum length about 15 cm, usually to about 12 cm TL.

Characteristics:

D IX or I,VIII, 11 or 12; A XI-XIII (usually XII); P 21-23; V I, 5; Llat (pored) 31-39 (34).

Body elongate. Head large (length 35-39% SL), moderately depressed, with several low ridges, mostly bearing spines; eyes large (~26-32% HL) with short, branched ocular flap; a single preocular spine; teeth small, sharp; three preopercular spines at angle of preopercle, uppermost longest, with an accessory spine on base; no interopercular flap present; total gill rakers on first gill arch 5-7 (usually 5 or 6). Scales ctenoid dorsally, cycloid ventrally, covering body and most of head behind eyes, moderately deciduous; oblique scale rows slanting backward above lateral line closely approximate to the number of lateral-line scales; lateral-line scales 34-41 (usually 37 or 38), anterior 2-10 (usually 2-5) scales bearing spines. Scale pores of lateral line with 2 openings to the exterior. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine short, following spines much longer. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, anterior rays longest, about 2/3 lengths of longest first dorsal-fin spines. Anal fin similar in shape, opposite and slightly shorter-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin slightly rounded. Pectoral fins moderate in length. Pelvic fins long, based below centre of pectoral fins, reaching to about anal fin origin.

Colour:

Body light brown to browny-red above, pale below; back crossed by about 4 dark bands. Anal fin pale, other fins mostly with brown spots or blotches, often forming bands.

Fisheries:

May be captured incidentally by trawls.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

None.

Original citation:

Platycephalus macrolepis Bleeker, 1854, Natuurkd. Tijdschr. Neder. Indië 6: Nagasaki, 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. (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.

Nakabo, T. (2002) (ed.) Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species, English edition. Tokai University Press. Fish. Japan Pict. Keys Species v. 1: 866 pp.

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.