| Bembridae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bembradium roseum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Suborder: | Platycephaloidei |
| Family: | Bembridae Kaup, 1873 [1] |
| Genera | |
see text | |
Bembridae, the deep-water flatheads, are a family of bottom-dwelling ray-finned fishes. They are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
Bembridae was first proposed as a family in 1873 by the German zoologist Johann Jakob Kaup. [1] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this family within the suborder Platycephaloidei in the order Scorpaeniformes. [2] Other authorities differ and do not consider the Scorpaeniformes to be a valid order because the Perciformes is not monophyletic without the taxa within the Scorpaeniformes being included within it. These authorities consider the Bembridae to belong to the suborder Platycephaloidei, along with the families Parabembridae, Hoplichthyidae, Platycephalidae and Plectrogeniidae within the Perciformes. [3] This family is thought to be more primitive than their close relatives, the true flatheads. Despite the common name, their heads are only slightly flattened and have spiny ridges. [4]
Bembridae contains 5 recognised genera: [2]
Other authorities classify the genus Parabembras within the monotypic family Parabembridae and place Bembradium in the family Plectrogeniidae. [3]
Bembridae derives its name from its type genus Bembras which was coined by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier in 1829 but he did not explain its etymology. However, it is thought that it may come from an ancient Greek word for some sort of small fish, such as anchovy, sprat or smelt. which at least dates as far back as Aristotle. Cuvier applied this type of name to other genera he put forward, such as Synodontis , Salanx or Premnas . [7]
Benbridae deepwater flatheads have large, flattened heads with elongated subcylindrical bodies which have not spiny scutes. The eyes are moderately large without an iris lapit or ocular flaps. The infraorbital bones form a clear, robust ridge, joining the uppermost preopercular spine and has between 4 and 6 spines on it. The spines on the head are short to moderate with between 8 and 11 above the eye. There are two separate dorsal fins, the first contains between 6 and 12 spines and the second between 8 and 12 soft rays while there are 3 spines in the anal fin. There are no separate rays in the pectoral fins. Although the colour is typically red red, orange, or light brown; some species have green, dark green or blackish spotting or blotching on their body and fins and the anal fin may be almost black. [2] [8] The deepwater flatheads range in size from Bembradium roseum , which has a maximum published standard length of 11 cm (4.3 in), to the bigscale flathead ( Bembras macrolepis ), which reaches a standard length of 27.3 cm (10.7 in). [9]
Bembridae deep-water flatheads have an Indo-Pacific distribution and are mainly found in the South China Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the waters near Southern Indonesia and Australia. [10] These are benthic fishes of the continental shelf at depths of 80 to 581 m (262 to 1,906 ft). [8]
The Platycephalidae are a family of marine fish, most commonly referred to as flatheads. They are relatives of the popular lionfish, belonging to the order Scorpaeniformes.
Platycephalus is a genus of mostly marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. They are found in the eastern Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
The tentacled flathead, also known as the Indian Ocean crocodilefish, Madagascar flathead or longhead flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, having invaded as a Lessepsian migrant through the Suez Canal. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Papilloculiceps.
Bembradium is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
Bembras is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
Brachybembras is monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. Its only species, Brachybembras aschemeieri, is known only from the Pacific Ocean around the Philippines where it is found at a depth of around 582 metres (1,909 ft).
Platycephaloidei is a suborder of ray-finned fishes, part of the order Scorpaeniformes, and includes the flatheads, ghost flatheads and sea robins.
Hoplichthys, the ghost flatheads, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. This genus is the only member of the family Hoplichthyidae.
Parabembras is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads, although they are sufficiently different from the other genera in that family to be classified as their own family, Parabembradidae, by some authorities. These fishes are found in the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
Cymbacephalus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
The spiny flathead, also known as the whitefin flathead or Bengal flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region. This species is the only known member of its genus.
Onigocia is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. They are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ratabulus is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
Rogadius is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
The Guinea flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean along the western coast of Africa. This species is the only known member of the genus Solitas. It is also the only flathead species which has a natural distribution which lies outside of the Indo-Pacific.
Sunagociais a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Parabembras curta, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. It is found in western Pacific Ocean.
Parabembras robinsoni, the African deep-water flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. It is found in Western Indian Ocean off southeastern Africa.
Parabembras multisquamata, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. It is found in the tropical western Pacific Ocean.
Cociella martingomoni is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Andaman Sea.