Crocodile fish (Cymbacephalus beauforti)

Scientific name: Cymbacephalus beauforti Knapp, 1973

Crocodile fish (Cymbacephalus beauforti)

The Crocodile fish (Cymbacephalus beauforti) is a marine fish of the family Platycephalidae.

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. 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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cymbacephalus beauforti
Family
Platycephalidae (Flatheads)
Order
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
50.0
Common length
35.0
Depth range
1–8 m (3–26 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 8 m, usually 2 - 3 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Western Pacific: Philippines, Borneo, Moluccas, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Palau, and Yap Island to Ishigaki Island. Range extended to Mentawai Islands (Indonesia).
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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