Indian Ocean crocodilefish
Papilloculiceps longiceps
About
The Indian Ocean crocodilefish is a flathead of the western Indian Ocean with a long, flattened head. It usually grows to about 50 cm, with a maximum of 70 cm.
Also known as: papilloculiceps longiceps, tentacled flathead, madagascar flathead, longhead flathead
- Length
- 50 cm · max 70 cm
- Depth
- up to 15 m
How to tell it apart
Look for a long fish lying on sand or rubble near reefs, with a flattened, crocodile-like head, a mottled brownish or greenish back, 3 or 4 dark bands on the tail fin and large dark blotches on the other fins.
Appearance
The body is long and the head flattened, with small papillae on the upper surface of the eyes. It is mottled brownish or greenish above and whitish below; the tail fin has 3 or 4 dark bands and the other fins have large dark blotches.
Habitat
It is found in the western Indian Ocean from the Red Sea, including the Gulf of Aqaba, to South Africa and Madagascar. Since 1986 it has also been reported in the Mediterranean, first off Israel, probably having arrived through the Suez Canal. It lives near coral reefs on sand or rubble bottoms at 1 to 15 m.
Behaviour
A well camouflaged ambush predator.
Diet
It feeds on fish and crustaceans.
Did you know?
Its species name, longiceps, means 'long head' and may refer to its flattened, crocodile-like head.
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