Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Hoplichthyidae

Hoplichthyidae

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CAAB: 37297000

Family HOPLICHTHYIDAE

Deep Sea Flatheads, Ghost Flatheads, Spiny Flatheads, Spook Flatheads


Compiler and date details

19 April 2015 - Dianne J. Bray, John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates, Mark A. McGrouther, Matthew M. Lockett & Douglass F. Hoese

John R. Paxton, Jennifer E. Gates, Mark A. McGrouther & Douglass F. Hoese

Introduction

Members of the Hoplichthyidae live in the Indo-Pacific. At least 13 species in a single genus Hoplichthys have been recorded; six described and at least one undescribed species are known from Australian waters.

Ghost flatheads are benthic on the continental shelf and slope in depths of 50 to 1500 m. They resemble flatheads of the family Platycephalidae in having a flattened head and body, however ghost flatheads lack scales, and have a larger head and a row of large spiny scutes along the lateral line. Maximum length is 43 cm. Food items include fishes and decapod crustaceans.

The ghost flatheads are being revised by Yuki Nagano (Hokkaido University Museum). Previously, Matsubara & Ochiai (1950a, 1950b) reviewed five species found in Japanese waters and McGouther (1999) presented a key to tropical species. H. regani was included in the Australian fauna by Paxton et al. Nagano et al. (2012) confirmed the validity of this species, but she concluded that it does not occur in Australia. She referred the specimens to a new species, H. imamurai Nagano (2013).

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
14-Dec-2022 SCORPAENIFORMES 14-Dec-2022 MODIFIED Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (ABRS)
06-May-2015 SCORPAENIFORMES 28-Jul-2022 MODIFIED Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)
12-Feb-2010 (import)