Thorny Flathead

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).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 12; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 10 - 12

Benthic on sand and mud bottoms (Ref. 30573). Usually caught with trawls to depths of about 80 m (Ref 90102).

分布於印度-西太平洋區海域，包括紅海、馬達加斯加、阿曼灣、泰國灣、印度洋北部、印度尼西亞、菲律賓、巴布亞新幾內亞、阿拉弗拉海、澳洲西北大陸棚和新喀里多尼亞等。臺灣發現於西南沿海。

屬於底拖漁業捕撈物種，體型較小，通常可見於下雜魚堆，或偶在魚市場販售，經濟價值低。

背鰭鰭條I-VIII, 11-12(主要11)；臀鰭鰭條11；胸鰭鰭條20-22(主要20)；腹鰭鰭條I, 5；尾鰭分叉鰭條10-12(主要11-12)。側線鱗50-53；鰓被架7。體延長，平扁，向後漸細尖，縱剖面略呈圓柱狀。頭部呈縱扁，眶間隔稍寬。吻平扁而短，約與眼徑等長。頭長為吻長之3.4-3.6倍。口大，上位，向後延伸超過眼睛前緣。眼大，眼後無凹陷。體長為頭長之2.5-2.6。鋤骨齒兩叢。頤部具發達側線管。眼上方不具附肢。間鰓蓋骨不具附肢。頰部具單稜。眼下稜鋸齒狀。前鰓蓋骨上方具3-4棘，上棘最長，下方具一向前之倒棘。虹膜雙葉型(bilobed)。眼眶前具1棘。眼眶上方具0棘。側線鱗具兩開口；第一背鰭及側線間列5-6。頭部及身體上灰黑色，下半部白色；背部不具鞍斑；第一背鰭中間白色，外緣黑色；胸鰭及第二背鰭具斑點形成之條紋；腹鰭黑色；臀鰭基部黑，外緣淡色；尾鰭具有黑色橫條紋。本種極易與/Rogadius asper/混淆，主要差別在於尾鰭具條紋以及第一背鰭及側線間鱗列較少。(何宣慶編寫 2012/12)

底棲性，生活在淺海或較深處之沙泥地。肉食性，以底棲性魚類或無脊椎動物為食。利用體色之擬態隱身於沙泥地，用以欺敵以及趁獵物不注意時躍起捕食。

Taken by trawling over sand and mud bottoms at depths to about 80 m (Ref. 9790).