Broadhead flathead

Sunagocia arenicola

Sunagocia arenicola is a flathead fish found over sand associated with rocks and coral reefs to about 30 m. Buries itself partially in the sand for camouflage. Feeds mainly on crabs and prawns, also on fishes. Also found in sandy fringe of coral reefs.
Broadhead Flathead - Sunagocia arenicola This Broadhead Flathead - Sunagocia arenicola (previously known as Thysanophrys arenicola) has spotted shades of brown to gray; light and dark banding and spotting on pectoral and ventral fins, both light and dark bars below eye and jaws; space between eyes about the same diameter of eye. They are seldom seen completely as they likes to buries themselves into the sand for hiding and camouflage, with only the face/head expose. Broadhead Flathead,Broadhead flathead,Fall,Fish,Flathead,Geotagged,Malaysia,Sabah,Sunagocia arenicola,thysanophrys arenicola

Appearance

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13. Lips smooth, lacking papillae on edges. Least interorbital width going 3.5 times or less in greatest diameter of orbit. Base of lower opercular spine concealed by scales. Anterior 1-3, usually 2, lateral line scales bearing a small spine. Iris lappet bearing short branches with bifurcate tips.
Broadhead flathead (Sunagocia_arenicola) Oct 6, 2012. To 37 cm (15 in.). Platycephalidae. Spotted shades of brown to gray. Light and dark banding and spotting on pectoral and ventral fins, both light and dark bars below eye and on jaws. Space between eyes about the same width as diameter of eye. Habitat: Solitary. Sandy fringe on coral reefs in 3-30 m. Indo-West Pacific. Broadhead flathead,Sunagocia arenicola

Naming

Synonym(s):
Thysanophrys arenicola Schultz in Schultz et al., 1966
Eurycephalus arenicola (Schultz in Schultz et al., 1966)

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Fiji. Northwards to Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands, including Mariana, Marshall, and Caroline islands.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/THYSANOPHRYS-ARENICOLA.html
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderPerciformes
FamilyPlatycephalidae
GenusSunagocia
SpeciesSunagocia arenicola
Photographed in
Malaysia
Philippines