Bembras japonica Cuvier, 1829
photo by Ho, H.-C.

Family:  Bembridae (Deepwater flatheads)
Max. size:  30 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 80 - 230 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: southern Japan and East China Sea. Specimens recorded from Indonesia, the Arafura Sea (Ref. 9819) and northwestern Australia (Ref. 5978) are probably new species (Ref. 13666).
Diagnosis:  Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 13-14. Head depressed. Body without large scute-like spines. Infraorbital bones forming a strong ridge, confluent with uppermost preopercular spine and having 4-6 spines. Ratio of pectoral-fin length to caudal fin length 0.88 to 1.05 (Ref. 40506).
Biology:  Found in the continental shelf (Ref. 7300). Inhabit sand or sandy mud bottoms (Ref. 11230). Neither anterolateral glandular groove nor venom gland is present (Ref. 57406).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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