155.1 Cociella crocodila
(Tilesius, 1812)
Crocodile flathead
Krokodil-platkop
Platycephalus crocodilus Tilesius, 1812, PI. 59, Fig. 2 (Nagasaki,
Japan); Barnard , 1927 (in part); Fowler, 1934: 488 (in part); Smith, SFSA
No. 1064 (in part). Platycephalus punctatus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829:
243 (Ceylon); Gilchrist & Thompson, 1911: 36 (Natal). Platycephalus
malabaricus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 245 (India); Gilchrist &
Thompson, 1909: 253 (in part).
D INIII+ 11; A 11; P 19-21; LL53-55. Head 2.6-3.0.
Usually brownish, with many small dark spots on upper
body. Back crossed by 4 or 5 dark brown bands in most.
Spiny D with a broad black band near edge and small black
spots below, other fins more or less darkly spotted. Attains
50 cm. From near shore to 100 m. Widespread, from Durban northward and from Red Sea to Japan and Guadacanal.
155.1 Cociella crocodila: 33 em (after Matsubara & Oehiai, 1955).
155.2 Cociella sp.
Spotfin flathead
Kolvin-platkop
Platycephalus malabaricus (non Cuvier): Gilchrist & Thompson, 1909:
253; Fowler, 1925: 255. Platycephalus tentaculatus (non Riippell): Fowler,
1925: 255. Platycephalus crocodilus (non Tilesius) : Barnard, 1927: 933 (in
part); Fowler, 1934: 488 (in part); Smith , SFSA No. 1064 (in part).
D INIII+ 12; A 12; P 19-21; LL52-55. Head 2.8-3.1.
Body usually brownish or greyish, with a few dark spots
in some. Fins blackish with dark spots often present; spiny
D pale (dusky in alcohol), with large dark spots throughout.
Attains 50 cm. East London north to Madagascar and
Oman from near shore to about 150 m.
155.2 Cociella sp.: dorsal view of head of 12 em SL specimen.
Genus Grammoplites Fowler, 1904
Four species, 1 in our area.
155: PLATYCEPHALIDAE (FLATHEADS)
155.3 Grammoplites portuguesus
(Smith, 1953)
Thorny flathead
Doring-platkop
Platycephalus scaber (non Linnaeus) : Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908:
193; Barnard, 1927: 935; Smith, SFSA No. 1069. Thysanophrys portuguesus
Smith, 1953: 17, PI. 1, Fig. 3 (Maputo); Smith, SFSA No. 10698*. .
D INIII+12; A 12; P 20-22; LL 51-53; GR 2+(9-10). Head 2.4-2.7.
Three or 4 preocular spines. Numerous papillae on lips.
Generally dark brown, lighter below. Attains 17 cm.
Taken by trawl in 20 - 70 m. Known only from Durban to
Beira.
155.3 Grammoplites porluguesus: 15 ern and dorsal view of head of holotype
(S. Mozambique).
Genus On;goc;a Jordan & Thompson, 1913
Five species, 1 in our area.
155.4 Onigocia oligolepis
(Regan, 1908)
PLATE 30
Large-scale flathead
Grootskub-platkop
Platycephalus o/igolepis Regan, 1908: 238, PI. 29, Fig. 4 (Cargados
Carajos) .
D INIII+ 11; A 11; P 22-23; LL34-40; GR 1+4. Head 2.4-2.7.
Body pale tan, whitish below; back crossed by a broad
155.4 Onigocia otigolepis: 120 ern syntype (atter Regan, 1908) and dorsal
view of head of 8 em SL specimen (Natal).
483
(Tilesius, 1812)
Crocodile flathead
Krokodil-platkop
Platycephalus crocodilus Tilesius, 1812, PI. 59, Fig. 2 (Nagasaki,
Japan); Barnard , 1927 (in part); Fowler, 1934: 488 (in part); Smith, SFSA
No. 1064 (in part). Platycephalus punctatus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829:
243 (Ceylon); Gilchrist & Thompson, 1911: 36 (Natal). Platycephalus
malabaricus Cuvier, in Cuv. & Val., 1829: 245 (India); Gilchrist &
Thompson, 1909: 253 (in part).
D INIII+ 11; A 11; P 19-21; LL53-55. Head 2.6-3.0.
Usually brownish, with many small dark spots on upper
body. Back crossed by 4 or 5 dark brown bands in most.
Spiny D with a broad black band near edge and small black
spots below, other fins more or less darkly spotted. Attains
50 cm. From near shore to 100 m. Widespread, from Durban northward and from Red Sea to Japan and Guadacanal.
155.1 Cociella crocodila: 33 em (after Matsubara & Oehiai, 1955).
155.2 Cociella sp.
Spotfin flathead
Kolvin-platkop
Platycephalus malabaricus (non Cuvier): Gilchrist & Thompson, 1909:
253; Fowler, 1925: 255. Platycephalus tentaculatus (non Riippell): Fowler,
1925: 255. Platycephalus crocodilus (non Tilesius) : Barnard, 1927: 933 (in
part); Fowler, 1934: 488 (in part); Smith , SFSA No. 1064 (in part).
D INIII+ 12; A 12; P 19-21; LL52-55. Head 2.8-3.1.
Body usually brownish or greyish, with a few dark spots
in some. Fins blackish with dark spots often present; spiny
D pale (dusky in alcohol), with large dark spots throughout.
Attains 50 cm. East London north to Madagascar and
Oman from near shore to about 150 m.
155.2 Cociella sp.: dorsal view of head of 12 em SL specimen.
Genus Grammoplites Fowler, 1904
Four species, 1 in our area.
155: PLATYCEPHALIDAE (FLATHEADS)
155.3 Grammoplites portuguesus
(Smith, 1953)
Thorny flathead
Doring-platkop
Platycephalus scaber (non Linnaeus) : Gilchrist & Thompson, 1908:
193; Barnard, 1927: 935; Smith, SFSA No. 1069. Thysanophrys portuguesus
Smith, 1953: 17, PI. 1, Fig. 3 (Maputo); Smith, SFSA No. 10698*. .
D INIII+12; A 12; P 20-22; LL 51-53; GR 2+(9-10). Head 2.4-2.7.
Three or 4 preocular spines. Numerous papillae on lips.
Generally dark brown, lighter below. Attains 17 cm.
Taken by trawl in 20 - 70 m. Known only from Durban to
Beira.
155.3 Grammoplites porluguesus: 15 ern and dorsal view of head of holotype
(S. Mozambique).
Genus On;goc;a Jordan & Thompson, 1913
Five species, 1 in our area.
155.4 Onigocia oligolepis
(Regan, 1908)
PLATE 30
Large-scale flathead
Grootskub-platkop
Platycephalus o/igolepis Regan, 1908: 238, PI. 29, Fig. 4 (Cargados
Carajos) .
D INIII+ 11; A 11; P 22-23; LL34-40; GR 1+4. Head 2.4-2.7.
Body pale tan, whitish below; back crossed by a broad
155.4 Onigocia otigolepis: 120 ern syntype (atter Regan, 1908) and dorsal
view of head of 8 em SL specimen (Natal).
483