| Cymbacephalus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Crocodile Fish (C. beauforti) | |
 | |
| Northern Rock Flathead (C. staigeri) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Platycephalidae |
| Genus: | Cymbacephalus Fowler, 1938 |
| Type species | |
| Platycephalus nematophthalmus | |
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.
Cymbacephalus was first proposed as a genus by the American zoologist Henry Weed Fowler in 1938 with Platycephalus nematophthalmus, which had been described in 1860 by Albert Günther from the Victoria River and Port Essington in Australia, designated as its type species. [2] The genus is classified within the family Playtcephalidae, the flatheads which the 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies within the suborder Platycephaloidei in the order Scorpaeniformes. [3] The genus name is a compound of cymba, which means "cavity", and cephalus, meaning "head", alluding to the large deep pit to the rear of each eye of C. nematophthalmus. [4]
Cymbacephalus currently has four recognised species classified within it: [5]
Some authorities regard C. staigeri as a synonym of C. nematophthalmus but include C. parilis (McCulloch, 1873), which has been considered to be a synonym of C. staigeri, as a valid species. [2]
Cymbacephalus flatheads are characterised by the possession of two or more spines the preoperculum with the upper spine being the longest but the second spine is almost equal to it in length and does not have an accessory spine on its base. The upper lobe of the caudal fin is not elongated and they do not have an elongated filament extending from the caudal fin. The first dorsal fin has between 7 and 9 spines while the second has 12 or less soft rays. There are 2 separate patches of vomerine teeth, There are between 4 and 46 pored scales in the lateral line and the posterior scales of the lateral line do not have spines. The lappet on the iris is cirrhose. [6] The largest species is C. nematophthalmus with a maximum published total length of 58 cm (23 in) while the smallest is C. bosschei with a maximum published total length of 45 cm (18 in). [5]
Cymbacephalus flatheads are Indo-Pacific fishes and are found in the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean, north as far as the Ryukyu Islands and south to New Caledonia and Australia. [2]
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.
De Beaufort's flathead, also known as the crocodilefish or giant flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Thysanophrys 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 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.
The brownmargin flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found off northern Australia.
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.
The tuberculated flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is found in Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.