Cockatoo Flounder

Cockatoo Flounder (Samaris cristatus); Tropical; Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 20 - 114 m (Ref. 11790). Max length : 22.3 cm; common length: 16 cm; max. published weight: 54.05 g (Ref. 122106).

Inhabits silty sand or mud bottoms (Ref. 3132, 48637). Feeds on benthic animals (Ref. 9792). Flicks the long dorsal filaments on the front of the head when alarmed, looking just like the sticky threads that are produced by a holothurian when handled (ref. 48637).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 73 - 78; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 49 - 60. Body on ocular side brownish with darker spots and blotches; a series of blotches along dorsal and ventral body margins; elongated anterior dorsal-fin rays white, remainder of dorsal fin, anal fin, and caudal fin brown; pectoral fin dark. Blind side of body whitish. First 12-15 (rarely 10-11) dorsal- fin rays greatly elongated. Pectoral fin on blind side absent or rudimentary. Pelvic fin on eyed side elongated. Caudal fin with 16 unbranched rays and rounded margin.

Indo-West Pacific: 🌊 Red Sea, East Africa to 🇳🇨 New Caledonia (🇫🇷 Overseas France), north to 🇯🇵 Japan and south to 🇦🇺 Australia.