Crocodilefish and flatheads
CROCODILEFISH - PLATHYCEPHALIDAE
There must be around sixty species, but only a few are known to live around coral reefs. Crocodilefish and flatheads lay down on the substrate waiting for prey to pass. They are able to dig themselves into sand, with only their eyes exposed. These are well adapted to the bright light among sandy areas because of a net-looking organ that covers their eyes. They probably are the only fish species which has this light protection. Length: 31 cm.
Distribution: from East and S- Africa to Ryukyus, Marshall Is. and Australia.
A sandy colour underground with many unregular white spots on head and body.
On sand and rubble of sheltered reefs. Length: 13 cm.
Distribution: from Indonesia to Marshall Is. and Samoa.
Similar to Onigocia spinosa but eyes wider from eachother and head a bit longer.
Brown with faint saddles, brown to black spots on dorsal, pelvic and pectoral fins.
Large spines on the back of the head. Lives solitary and sometimes buried in sand
bottoms of coastal reefs, from -5 to -40 m. Length: 13 cm.
Distribution: from Indonesia to S- Japan, the Coral Sea and NW- Australia.
Red to brown with white body bar in the centre of the body and infront the tail base.
White margin on pelvic fins, large head with big spines on the back and short snout.
Lives solitary on sand bottoms of coastal reefs, from -5 to -250 m. Length: 23 cm.
Distribution: Red Sea to French Polynesia, Taiwan, Ryukyus and Great Barrier Reef.
Narrow space between the eyes, nearly touching.
Lives on sand of sheltered or semi-exposed reefs, down to 80 m. Length: 100 cm.
Distribution: from the Red Sea to Seychelles and Madagascar. Length: 50 cm.
Distribution: from Singapore to Philippines, Micronesia and New Caledonia.
Long body, brown streaks underneath the eyes and blue area in first dorsal fin.
Lives on sand or rubble of sheltered or semi-exposed reefs.
Are able to change color, to blend with their surroundings.
Feeds mainly on small fishes and crustaceans.
Crocodilefish info.
Cymbacephalus beauforti - Beaufort's crocodilefish
Papilloculiceps logiceps - Common crocodilefish
Onigocia spinosa - Spiny flathead
Rogadius welanderi - Welander's flathead
Cociella punctata - Spotted flathead
Thysanophrys arenicola - Sand flathead
Thysanophrys chiltonae - Longsnout flathead