Scientific Name
Cymbacephalus beauforti

Common Name
Crocodile fish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9 - 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11. Small juveniles all black, gradually changing to the blotched pattern of the adult (Ref. 48635). Rear edge of maxilla ends well in front of eye. Prominent pit present behind upper eye. Preopercular spines short, usually 2, subequal. Infraorbital ridge usually smooth over eye. Suborbital ridge largely smooth, bearing 2 spines below eye. Oblique scale rows slanting backward above lateral line more or less equals number of lateral-line scales. Dermal papillae (10-12 in adults) on upper eye, some simple, some branched, longest not reaching supraorbital ridge. Interopercular flap usually broader than long, with several subdivisions.

Classification

Classified By

Knapp, 1973

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Flatheads (Platycephalidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: Philippines, Borneo, Moluccas, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Palau, and Yap Island to Ishigaki Island. Range extended to Mentawai Islands (Indonesia).

Range

19°N - 23°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

8 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 8 m (Ref. 1602), usually 2 - 3 m (Ref. 9790)

Trophic Level

4.5 s.e. 0.80 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

50.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: subsistence fisheries

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated