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

Family:  Platycephalidae (Flatheads)
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; 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: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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