PLATYCEPHALIDAE


Inegocia japonica, NSMT-P 66036, 6.0 cm SL

Inegocia japonica (Tilesius, 1812)
Japanese flathead

D1 I - VIII or IX; D2 11 - 13; A 11 - 13; P1 19 - 21; P2 I, 5; LLp 51 - 55. Body elongate. Head moderately depressed. Suborbital ridge with 2 spines. Eye without ocular flaps. Iris lappet cirrose. Teeth on vomer in 2 separate patches. Finger-like interopercular flap present. Cheek region covered by skinny sensory tubes. Lateral line scales with two openings to exterior. Color: body and head grayish or brown above, whitish below, with 6 obscure dark bands crossing dorsal surface; first and second dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and caudal fins with dark spots; anal fin dusky posteriorly in smaller specimens or entirely in larger specimens. Size: maximum length about 25 cm. Distribution: widespread, ranging from Sri Lanka to northern Australia and to southern Japan. Remarks: occurring in muddy or sandy bottom to depths to 85 m.