Dr. Glen Whisson, Aqua Research and Monitoring Services, Australien
Info
Cymbacephalus staigeri is a blackish to brownish flathead, becoming whitish on the ventral side, with 6 or 7 distinct dark bands on the dorsum extending to the lateral line, and a row of dark spots on the underside and cheek, and a broad dark submarginal band on the first dorsal fin that widens posteriorly.
The body is elongate, the head moderately depressed.
The spiny dorsal fin has a broad submarginal dark band that widens posteriorly, the soft dorsal fin is dark.
The anal fin shows a series of large brown spots, and the pectoral and pelvic fins have small brown spots.
The caudal fin is mottled with light stripes and dark spots.
Habitat: The crocodile fish inhabits sandy patches in shallow, rocky coastal areas.
The species was named after Carl Staiger, a former director of the Brisbane Museum, Queensland.
Note: Fishes of Australia states that this species has venomous spines by the eyes, however, we could not find scientific confirmation of this.
Cymbacephalus parilis (McCulloch, 1914)
Insidiator parilis McCulloch, 1914
Platycephalus staigeri Castelnau, 1875
Suggrundus staigeri (Castelnau, 1875)
Cymbacephalus papillaris (McCulloch 1914)
The body is elongate, the head moderately depressed.
The spiny dorsal fin has a broad submarginal dark band that widens posteriorly, the soft dorsal fin is dark.
The anal fin shows a series of large brown spots, and the pectoral and pelvic fins have small brown spots.
The caudal fin is mottled with light stripes and dark spots.
Habitat: The crocodile fish inhabits sandy patches in shallow, rocky coastal areas.
The species was named after Carl Staiger, a former director of the Brisbane Museum, Queensland.
Note: Fishes of Australia states that this species has venomous spines by the eyes, however, we could not find scientific confirmation of this.
Cymbacephalus parilis (McCulloch, 1914)
Insidiator parilis McCulloch, 1914
Platycephalus staigeri Castelnau, 1875
Suggrundus staigeri (Castelnau, 1875)
Cymbacephalus papillaris (McCulloch 1914)
