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Serrate Flathead Rogadius serratus (Cuvier, 1829)
[CAAB 37 296040]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

In Australia known only from the Capricorn Bunker group, northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. Recorded internationally from Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Chagos Archipelago, Indonesia, Philippines, Port Moresby, and New Caledonia. Demersal in bays and coastal waters to a depth of 11 m; a single specimen taken by trawl at 45 m.

Size:

Maximum total length about 24 cm, commonly to 15 cm.

Characteristics:

D IX or I,VIII, 11 (rarely 12); A 11; P 20-23; V I, 5; Llat (pored) 51-54 (rarely 50).

Body elongate, depressed. Head moderately depressed, lower side of head unicarinate; supraorbital and suborbital ridges bearing many fine serrations; preorbital spine absent, several small serrations present; a single preocular spine with an accessory spine on anterior base; ocular flap absent; teeth on vomer in two separate patches. Preopercular spines 4 or 5 (usually 5); uppermost longest, with an accessory spine on base, weak antrorse spine present, tip of antrorse spine sometimes difficult to see. Gill rakers 6-8 (usually 7). Interopercular flap absent. Oblique scale rows slanting backward above lateral line about equal to number of lateral-line scales. Lateral-line scales usually 51-54 (rarely 50), anterior 1-9 scales bearing a small spine. scale pores of lateral line with 2 openings to the outside. First dorsal fin spinous, base almost as long as base of second dorsal fin, first spine very short, attached to second spine by a low membrane, 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, opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded. Pectoral fins moderately long. Pelvic fins long, reaching to about anal fin origin.

Colour:

Body and head light tan dorsally, head with a broad suborbital dark bar, head and body paler below, back crossed by about 7 or 8 dark bands, sides with a series of dark blotches. Spinous dorsal fin dusky. Second dorsal fin with dark brown spots along rays. Caudal fin with a dark band basally; whitish central band; blackish submarginal band becoming paler above; upper area usually with a few distinct dark spots; pectoral fins dark below with whitish edge, pale above with dark spots.

Fisheries:

May be taken in trawls.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

None.

Original citation:

Platycephalus serratus Cuvier, in Cuvier & Valenciennes,1829, Hist. Nat. Poiss., 4: Sri Lanka.

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).

Imamura, H. (2007) Rogadius mcgroutheri, a new species of flathead (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) collected from eastern Australia and New Caledonia. Ichth. Res. 54: 303-307.

Imamura, H. & Amaoka, K. (1996) Rogadius serratus (Cuvier, 1829), a senior synonym of R. polijodon (Bleeker, 1853) (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae). Ichth. Res. 43(1): 97-100.

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.