Platycephalus Bloch, 1795
Diagnosis: head flattened, smooth, except for the low parieto-occipital, scapular and preopercular ridges, none of which is provided with any spines or serratures; a low blunt spine in front of the upper anterior orbital angle; preoperculum ending in 2 robust spines, both slightly upturned; vomerine teeth canine-like; palatines with a single prominent row of canine-like teeth; jaws with villiform teeth in broad bands. Two dorsal fins well separated, the first with 1 isolated short spine and 7-9 spines, the second with 13 soft rays; anal fin with 13 soft rays; highest dorsal spine scarcely equal to longest soft ray; posterior margin of soft dorsal and anal fins cleft deeply between the rays, the membrane joining the front edge of the rays below their middle; free ends of the rays well branched. Body covered with very small ctenoid scales, more than 100 in a longitudinal row; lateral line smooth, covered with 67-84 pored scales. Colour: brownish with 8 or 9 obscure dusky bands over back; top of head mottled in fine pattern, the spots being of a more or less roundish form and encircled with a pale ring; ventral part of the body yellowish; fins, except caudal, with rows of dusky spots on the rays; caudal fin with a median longitudinal black band, below and above which are 2 oblique ones. Size: to 35 cm, usually 20 cm.
Habitat: rocky and soft bottoms from 20 to 200 m depth. Food: crustaceans and small fishes. Reproduction: no data.
Distribution: in the area, along the coast of Israel (rare) and Egypt; penetrated into the eastern Mediterranean through the Suez Canal; outside the area, Red Sea, eastern coasts of Africa, coasts of India, Indonesia, China, Japan, the Philippines and Western Australia.
Species 6; in Clofnam area 1.
Species of this genus in the program:
Platycephalus indicus