Scientific Name
Sunagocia arenicola
Sunagocia arenicola沙地蘇納牛尾魚
by: Lab of Fish Ecol. and Evo., BRCAS
Author (Schultz, 1966) Depth 1 - 30M
Chinese 沙地蘇納牛尾魚 Poisonous Fish No 
Family_Chinese 牛尾魚科 Economic Fish No 
Family F313 Platycephalidae Edible Fish Yes  Chinese In Mainland China 沙棲蘇納鯒 
Max Length 37 cm  Aquarium Fish No  Common Name 沙地繸牛尾魚、竹甲、狗祈仔、牛尾 
Distribution in World India Ocean to Pacific Ocean   Distribution in Taiwan East、South、North、PonFu、ShaoLiuChew、LanI Is.、Greeb IS. 
Habitats Benthos、Coastal、Coral&Sand  Holotype Locality Lagoon reef at Naen Island, Rongelap Atoll, western Pacific 
Synonyms Eurycephalus arenicola, Platycephalus arenicola, Thysanophrys arenicola   
Reference 1. 臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993);2. Knapp, L. W. 1999. Family Platycephalidae. In: Carpenter and Niem (ed). Species identification guide for fisheries purposes. The living marine resources of the western central Pacific. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). FAO, Rome. v. 4: iii-v; 2069-2790;3. Shao, K. T. and J. P. Chen, 1987. Fishes of the family Platycephalidae (Teleostei: Platycephaloidei) of Taiwan with descriptions of two new species. Bull. Inst. Zool. Acad. Sin. 26(1):77-94.  Schultz, L.P. etc. 1966 Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno, etc. 1984 沈世傑 編 Shih-Chieh Shen ed. 1993 
Specimen List ASIZP0056073. ASIZP0056074. ASIZP0056075. ASIZP0056077. ASIZP0057026. ASIZP0057028. ASIZP0058414. ASIZP0059395. ASIZP0059417. ASIZP0074256. ASIZP0074308. ASIZP0080240. BPBMI23341. FRIP20057. FRIP21067. NMMBP02367. NMMBP03131. NMMBP03151. NMMSTP00533. NTOUP201203-152. RUSI35056. RUSI35684. USNM00362807.  
Common Name Broadhead flathead 
Redlist Status NL Not in IUCN Redlist     
Characteristic Dorsal fin with I-VIII spines and 11-13 soft rays; anal fin with XI-XIII soft rays; pectoral fin with 21 soft rays; lateral line scales 52-53; gill raker 1+5-6. Lips smooth, lacking papillae on edges. Least interorbital width going 3.5 times or less in greatest diameter of orbit. Base of lower opercular spine concealed by scales. Anterior 1-3, usually 2, lateral line scales bearing a small spine. Iris lappet bearing short branches with bifurcate tips.
habitats Inhabit reef-associated marine environment; depth range 1 - 30 m. Taken over sand associated with rocks and coral reefs to about 30 m. Buries itself partially in the sand for camouflage. Feeds mainly on crabs and prawns, also on fishes. 
Distribution Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Marshall Islands and Fiji. Northwards to Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands, including Mariana, Marshall, and Caroline islands 
Utility Not commercial food species.