Rogadius pristiger (Cuvier, 1829)
Thorny flathead
Rogadius pristiger
photo by Tonozuka, T.

 Family:  Platycephalidae (Flatheads)
 Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
 Environment:  demersal; depth range 15 - 95 m, non-migratory
 Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Madagascar and Gulf of Oman; northern Indian Ocean; Indonesia, Gulf of Thailand, Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819), northwest shelf of Australia and New Caledonia. Recently reported from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
 Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-12. Lower edge of preopercle projecting downward as a strong antrorse spine. Infraorbital and suborbital ridges bearing many fine serrations. Lower side of head unicarinate. Dorsal fin usually 11. Iris lappet bilobed. Caudal fin with a white basal band, a broad dusky submarginal band and a narrow white edge. Description: Characterized by brown color; 3-4 dark brown to blackish bars/saddles on back and sides; first dorsal fin blackish with white and black bands on spines; black spots on second dorsal fin; base of pectoral fin white with black spots on central portion; black spots on pectoral fins and white outer margin (Ref. 90102).
 Biology:  Benthic on sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 30573). Usually caught with trawls to depths of about 80 m (Ref 90102).
 IUCN Red List Status:   (Ref. 96402)
 Threat to humans:  harmless
 Country info:   
 

 Entered by: Binohlan, Crispina B. - 25.09.95
 Modified by: Valdestamon, Roxanne Rei - 07.03.13
 Checked by: Knapp, Leslie - 06.10.95

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