Cociella punctata (Cuvier, 1829)
Spotted flathead
photo by Winterbottom, R.

Family:  Platycephalidae (Flatheads)
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 10 - 300 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: widespread, from the New Hebrides to Papua New Guinea, north to Taiwan, through Indonesia to Thailand, Pakistan, the Red Sea, and South Africa. Replaced by Cociella crocodilus from southern China to Japan and by Cociella hutchinsi in northern Australia (Ref. 37816).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 11-12. Uppermost preopercular spine reaching only about half-way to the opercular margin. Preorbital spine present. Infraorbital ridge usually smooth over anterior 1/2 of eye. Suborbital ridge lacking spines behind eye. Interopercular flap present. Iris lappet simple, semicircular. Numerous small dark spots on back reaching to below the lateral line, more widely scattered posteriorly. Has 5-6 dark bands across the back, but small juveniles may have only a broad saddle crossing the spinous dorsal fin and a narrow one near the rear of the soft dorsal fin (Ref. 37816). Description: Characterized by generally pale greyish color; pectoral, pelvic, second dorsal and anal fins with brownish spots; caudal fin with dark blotch or horizontal dark streak (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Frequents shallow areas in depths of 10 m or less. Taken in trawl fisheries at depths from 23 to 250 m. Reported from a trap in the Gulf of Aqaba at a depth of 300 m. Young to juvenile stages utilize mangrove habitat (Ref. 9790). Adults occur in silty sand habitats from the shallows to a depth of 300 m (Ref. 37816). Also found in coastal sand patches, near coral reefs but more often on offshore (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 February 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
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