Scientific Name
Onigocia spinosa

Common Name
Midget flathead

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. A short, branched supra ocular cirrus present. Infraorbital ridge entirely serrated over eye. Preopercular spines 3-5, not noticeably slanting towards mid-line; no smooth notch under eye. Antorbital margin with 3 antrorse spines. Lower side of head unicarinate. Lateral line scales frequently 37 or 38, anterior 7 to 27 scales bearing a small spine or ridge. Iris lappet bearing numerous short branches with bifurcate tips. Upper surface of eye with a short, branched cirrus.

Classification

Classified By

Temminck & Schlegel, 1843

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Flatheads (Platycephalidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Pacific

Distribution

Western Pacific: southern Japan, South China Sea, Philippines, northwest shelf of Australia through Timor and Arafura seas.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

250 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; non-migratory; depth range ? - 250 m (Ref. 9790)

Trophic Level

4.03 s.e. 0.66 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

25.0 cm

Common Length

10.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (25 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated