Flathead

Body and head mottled with dark brown and buff; fin rays with dark brown or black spots; dark brown saddle blotch on top of caudal peduncle (Ref. 4315). Least interorbital width going 3.8-7.2 times in diameter of eye. Base of lower opercular spine concealed by scales. Anterior 1-3, usually 3, lateral line scales bearing a small spine. Iris lappet bearing short branches with bifurcate tips.

Dorsal spines (total): 8 - 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 12

Inhabits sand areas adjacent to coral reefs (Ref. 9790). Seldom noticed for it buries itself in the sand (often partially). Feeds on crustaceans, crabs and prawns, also on fishes (Ref. 2334).

Inhabits sand areas adjacent to coral reefs (Ref. 9790). Seldom noticed for it buries itself in the sand (often partially). Usually in small groups (Ref. 48635). Feeds on crustaceans, crabs and prawns, also on fishes.

fisheries: subsistence fisheries

廣泛分布於印度-西太平洋區海域，西起紅海及東非，東到馬貴斯群島，北至琉球群島 ，南至澳洲北部。屬於島嶼分布型。臺灣分布於南部、西南部、東北部、澎湖、綠島及蘭嶼等地。

中小型魚類，偶被漁船捕獲，可食用，但不具規模性經濟價值。

背鰭鰭條I-VIII, 11-12；臀鰭鰭條12-13；胸鰭鰭條19-20；腹鰭鰭條I, 5；尾鰭分叉鰭條10。側線鱗53-54；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，為眼徑之1.3倍。頭長為吻長之3.0-3.1倍。口大，上位，向後延伸未達眼睛前緣。眼大，眼後無凹陷。體長為頭長之2.6-2.7。鋤骨齒兩叢。頤部具發達側線管。眼上方不具附肢。間鰓蓋骨具附肢，葉片狀。頰部具單稜。眼下稜具6-7棘。前鰓蓋骨上方具3棘，上棘較長，下方不具向前之倒棘。虹膜分叉型(branched)，各分支末端分叉。眼眶前具1棘。眼眶上方具1棘。側線鱗具雙開口。頭部及身體灰黑色，具有許多白色細斑；下半部白色；背部具有5-7明顯鞍狀斑；眼下部具有一明顯橫條紋；背鰭具有黑色及白色的斑點交錯；臀鰭白色；腹鰭基部具有一明顯大黑斑，後端具有數個不明顯黑斑；尾鰭具有白色及黑色斑點所形成條紋交錯。(何宣慶、林沛立編寫 2012/12)

底棲性，主要生活在珊瑚礁的沙泥地或潟湖。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。