Cociella crocodilus (Cuvier, 1829)
Crocodile flathead
Cociella crocodilus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Platycephalidae (Flatheads)
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 300 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Solomon Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia (Ref. 3476).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 11-11. Brownish with small dark spots on upper body; usually with 4-5 dark brown bands crosses back; spiny dorsal with broad black band near edge and small black spots below, other fins darkly spotted (Ref. 4315).
Biology:  Occur from near shore to 100 m depth (Ref. 4315, 11230), on sand or mud bottoms. Larvae and juveniles rarely enter mangrove areas, most especially the lower reaches (Ref. 43081).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 03 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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