Black Banded Flathead

Infraorbital ridges bearing many fine serrations. Lower side of head unicarinate. Dorsal fin rays usually 12; anal fin rays usually 11. Iris lappet bilobed. Caudal fin white with several dark blotches along upper edge and 2 or 3 elongate black bars below.Description: Characterized by mottled light brown to tan color; pectoral, dorsal and anal fins with dark brown spotting; dusky brown pelvic fins with narrow white margins 4-11 anterior lateral line scales bearing small spine or ridge; 2-5 preopercular spines, uppermost longest; absence of preorbital spine (Ref. 90102).

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 11 - 12

Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154).

Taken by trawl on coastal shelves at depths of 14-100 m (Ref. 9790). Also occurs on sand or rubble bottoms near reefs (Ref 90102).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

分布於西太平洋區海域，由琉球群島到澳洲北部與新喀里多尼亞等。臺灣分布於東部、西部、西南部及東北部等海域。

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；臀鰭鰭條11；胸鰭鰭條20；腹鰭鰭條I, 5；尾鰭分叉鰭條9。側線鱗51；鰓被架8。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，略長，約為眼徑之1.2倍。頭長為吻長之3.3倍。口大，上位，向後延伸達眼睛前緣。眼大，眼後無凹陷。體長為頭長之2.7。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4棘，下方不具向前之倒棘。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鱗5-6。頭部及身體上灰黑色，下半部白色；背部具五個不明顯鞍斑；第一背鰭及尾鰭具條紋；胸鰭及第二背鰭具斑點形成之條紋；腹鰭基部白色，外部黑色，具白緣；臀鰭淡色。(何宣慶、林沛立編寫 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。