| Cociella | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Crocodile Flathead (C. crocodila) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Platycephalidae |
| Genus: | Cociella Whitley, 1940 |
| Type species | |
| Platycephalus crocodilus | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Cociella is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Cociella was first proposed as a genus in 1940 by the Australian ichthyologist Gilbert Percy Whitley as a replacement for Cocius which had been put forward by David Starr Jordan and Carl Leavitt Hubbs in 1925 but this name was unavailable as it was preoccupied by the antlion genus Cocius ., [1] described by the Spanish entomologist Longinos Navás in 1921. [2] Jordan and Hubbs designated Platycephalus crocodilus, a species described by Georges Cuvier in 1829 but no types are known, [3] as the type species of their genus and Whitley retained it as the type species of the replacement. [1] The genus is classified within the family Playcephalidae, the flatheads. [4] The name of the genus, Cociella, is a diminutive form of the original name coined by Jordan and Hubbs which is thought to be a latinisation of the Japanese name for flatheads and dragonets. [5]
There are currently six recognised species in this genus: [4] [3]
C. punctata was regarded as a synonym of C. crocodilus, and C. heemstrai, C. hutchinsi and C. somaliensis were previously regarded as geographic populations of C. crocodilus. [6]
Cociella is characterised by having two separate patches of vomerine teeth and non depressible teeth in the jaws. There are more diagonal scale rows above the lateral line than there are lateral line scales. The lateral line scales are pored and have one opening. The lappet on the iris is a simple lobe and the side of the head has two ridges. There is a spine on the suborbital ridge below the middle of the eye and another under the rear of the eye. Spines may, or may not, be present behind the eye. The preoperculum has 3 spines with the upper spine being clearly the longest and lower having an accessory spine at its base. [6] The maximum recorded total length is for C. crocodilus sensu lato and is 50 cm (20 in). while the smallest maximum recorded total length is for C. hutchinsi at 30 cm (12 in). [4]
Cociella flatheads are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans from the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea east to New Caledonia, north to Japan and south to Australia. [4] [3]
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.
Bembridae, the deep-water flatheads, are a family of bottom-dwelling ray-finned fishes. They are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
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.
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.
The dwarf flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Elates.
Grammoplites 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 Longhead flathead, also known as the crocodile flathead or weed flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is endemic to reefs in the coastal waters of southern Australia.
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.
Insidiator is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Sunagociais a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the Indian and Pacific oceans.
The crocodile flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
Cociella heemstrai is a species of demersal, marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the western Indian Ocean off eastern Africa and Madagascar. Its biology is little know but it is caught by fisheries.
The brownmargin flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found off northern Australia.
Cociella martingomoni is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Andaman Sea.
The spotted flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Cociella somaliensis is a species of demersal, marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the north western Indian Ocean.
Inegocia japonica, the Japanese flathead, rusty flathead or smooth 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.