| Platycephaloidei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bartail flathead (Platycephalus indicus) | |
 | |
| Piper gurnard (Trigla lyra) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Suborder: | Platycephaloidei Matsubara, 1943 |
| Families | |
See text | |
Platycephaloidei is a suborder of ray-finned fishes, part of the order Scorpaeniformes, and includes the flatheads, ghost flatheads and sea robins.
Platycephaloidei was first recognised and named as a taxonomic grouping in 1943 by the Japanese ichthyologist Kiyomatsu Matsubara. [1] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies this group as a suborder within the Scorpaeniformes. [2] Other authorities classify the families that make up Patycephaloidei in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as two suborders; the Platycephaloidei, consisting of the families Bembridae, Parabembridae (separated from Bembridae), Platycephalidae, Hoplichthyidae and Plectrogeniidae (treated as a subfamily of Scorpaenidae in Fishes of the World) and the Trigloidei, including the families Triglidae and Peristediidae. [3] The name of the suborder is taken from that of the type genus Platycephalus which means "flat head". [4]
The following families and subfamilies are classified within the suborder Platycephaloidei: [2] [5]
Platycephaloidei fishes are characterised by having elongate bodies with flattened heads which typically have ridges and spines. There are two separate dorsal fins, the pelvic fins are widely separated and have a single spine and typically 5 soft rays, although the pelvic fins of the genus Hoplichthys has 3 soft rays. The anal fin may contain 0, 1 or 3 spines and between 5 and 18 soft rays. They may or may not have a swimbladder. [2] The flatheads of the family Platycephalidae are the largest fishes within this taxon with some attaining lengths of 70 cm (28 in). [6]
Platycephaloidei fishes, in the sense of the alternative classification to that of Fishes of the World outlined under Taxonomy are not found in the New World and are found in the temperate and tropical waters where they are demersal fishes found from relatively shallow inshore waters to moderate depths of around 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in offshore waters. The Trigloidei are more widely distributed and are also demersal fishes occurring on the continental shelf on sand or mud substrates. [6]
Platycephaloidei fishes are utilised by fisheries, some species of sea robins are of commercial importance and some flatheads are important food fishes, particularly in Australia. [6]
The Scorpaeniformes are a diverse order of ray-finned fish, including the lionfishes and sculpins, but have also been called the Scleroparei. It is one of the five largest orders of bony fishes by number of species, with over 1,320.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Plectrogenium, is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, the stinger flatheads, the only genus classified within the subfamily Plectrogeninae, which in turn is classified within the family Scorpaenidae. This genus is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Prionotinae is a subfamily of demersal, marine ray-finned fishes, part of the family Triglidae. The fishes in this subfamily are called sea robins and are found in the Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific Oceans, the other two Triglid subfamilies are called gurnards.
Cociella martingomoni is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Andaman Sea.
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.