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🌊 Marine Least Concern 🌡️ Tropical

Fringelip flathead

Sunagocia otaitensis Cuvier, 1829
Max Length
30 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.9
Depth
1–40 m
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
30.00/100
Typical Length
19 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Inhabits sand and rubble areas of lagoon and seaward reefs . The species buries itself in the sand for camouflage. Feeds on crabs and prawns, also on fishes. Also found in sandy fringe of coral reefs (Ref 90102).

Scientific Name
Sunagocia otaitensis
Authority
Cuvier, 1829
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
30 cm
Depth Range
1–40 m
Latitude
28°S – 26°N
Trophic Level
3.9
Resilience
Medium
Vulnerability
30.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 12. Body mottled with brown and white blotches above, whitish below; back crossed by 4-5 dark bands which may be indistinct . Lips with a row of small fleshy papillae. Base of lower opercular spine concealed by scales. Dorsal fin rays usually 11. Iris lappet bearing short branches with bifurcate tips. : elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Fringelip flathead is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 40 m . Tropical; 26°N - 28°S East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
3.9±0.67
Food Items

crabs and prawns, also on fishes

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00457 × L3.09 (TL)
Max TL
30cm
Dorsal Spines
9
Dorsal Rays
12
Anal Rays
12

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Medium
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
30.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.9
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Latitude Range
26°N – 28°S
Described By
Cuvier, 1829

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Callionymus barffi Curtiss 1944 Synonym
Cottus otaitensis Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Eurycephalus otaitensis Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Platycephalus malayanus Bleeker 1854 Synonym
Platycephalus otaitensis Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Platycephalus variolosus Günther 1876 Synonym
Platycephalus variolusus Günther 1876 Synonym
Thysanophrys malayanus Bleeker 1854 Synonym
Thysanophrys otaitensis Cuvier 1829 Synonym
Thysanophrys papillolabium Schultz 1966 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

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