Bigscale Flathead, Bembras macrolepis Imamura 1998

Known only from eastern Australia, from Townsville, Queensland, to off Wollongong, New South Wales. Demersal on the outer continental shelf and upper slope at depths of 183-366 m.

D X-XI-I, 10-11 (usually XI-I, 11); A 14-15 (usually 15); C (branched) 12-14; P 17-19 (usually 18); V I, 5; Llat 52-55.

Body elongate, subcylindrical. Head large (length 35-39% SL), bearing numerous spines; eyes small (26-29% HL); iris lappet, ocular and interopercular flaps absent; supraorbital with 8-9 spines; suborbital with 5-6 spines; four preopercular spines, uppermost longest, (not bearing a supplementary spine), lowermost smallest; gill rakers on upper limb of first gill arch 2-3, 10-12 on lower. Scales large, deciduous; 52-55 lateral line scales, anterior 4-6 with a distinct spine; 55-62 oblique rows of scales above lateral line slanting downward and forward. First dorsal fin spinous, first spine broadly attached to second spine, following spines much longer. Second dorsal fin base subequal in length to first. Anal fin similar in shape, opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin rear margin truncate to weakly rounded. Pectoral fins long, about 20-23% SL.

In preservative: Head and body light brown with small darker brown spots. Caudal fin with a broad, dark, vertical submarginal band, upper edge and posterior margin dusky; pectoral with dusky spots on middle portion, and a dark blotch positioned from upper portion to middle of margin; pelvic fin pale; anal fin pale or dusky. Dorsal fins with small dark brown spots, first fin with or without large dusky anterodorsal spot.

May be caught incidentally.

Bembras macrolepis Imamura, in Imamura & Knapp, 1998, Ichth. Res. 45(2): eastern Australia.

CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research