Dogtoothed Flathead

This species is distinguished by the following characters: 94-112 anteroventrally slanted oblique scale rows above lateral line; snout length 31.2-35.7% HL, markedly decreasing in length proportionally with growth; pectoral fin length 13.9-17.0% SL; pelvic fin length 19.5-23.1% SL; nasal bone without tubercles; dorsal surface of head and body dark brown, with small, round, dark-brown spots; and pelvic fin with small brown to black spots (Ref. 86254).

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 12

Taken by trawling at depths of 79 to 261m. Recorded by Galathea Station 539 as being dredged over gravel (Ref. 9790).

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，由東海至澳洲西北大陸棚、帝汶海、珊瑚海與新南威爾斯的波特尼灣等。臺灣的東北部及西南部較常見。

屬於底拖漁業捕撈物種，屬於大型物種，具高經濟價值。肉質鮮美，刺少，清蒸或油炸皆美味。

背鰭鰭條I-VIII, 11-12(主要11)；臀鰭鰭條11-12(主要12)；胸鰭鰭條19-21；腹鰭鰭條I, 5；尾鰭分叉鰭條10-13(主要11-12)。側線鱗50-58；鰓被架6-8(主要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1.4-1.8倍。頭長為吻長之2.8-3.0倍。口大，上端位，向後延伸未達眼睛前緣。眼中大，眼後無凹陷。體長為頭長之2.5-2.7倍。鋤骨齒兩叢。上下頜具有長且可下壓之犬齒。頤部不具側線管。眼上方不具附肢。間鰓蓋骨不具附肢。頰部具兩稜。眼下稜具3-4棘。前鰓蓋骨上方具2棘，不具向前之倒棘。虹膜垂簡單或雙葉型( simple or bilobed)。眼眶前具1棘。眼眶上方具1棘。側線鱗具單一開口。頭部及身體上方棕色，取有許多紅棕色細斑；下半部白色，伴隨稀疏之斑點；背部不具鞍斑；第一背鰭具黑緣；臀鰭淡色；其餘各鰭具有黑色斑點形成之條紋。(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。