Dwarf flathead
The dwarf flathead (Elates ransonnettii) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Elates. Taxonomy The dwarf flathead was first formally described in 1876 as Platycephalus ransonnettii by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner with the type localityy given as Singapore. In 1907 the American ichthyologists David Starr Jordan and Alvin Seale described a new species, Elates thompsoni. from Manila which they placed in a new monotypic genus but this was later considered to be a synonym of Steindachner's P. ransonnettii although the genus is considered to be valid. This genus is classified within the family Playtcephalidae, the flatheads which the 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies within the suborder Platycephaloidei in the order Scorpaeniformes. Etymology Elates is Greek for "leader" or "driver", Jordan and Seale did not explain their choice of this name. The specific name honours the Austrian diplomat, painter, lithographer, biologist and explorer who collected fishes in Singapore and sent them, including specimens of this species, to Steindachner. Description The dwarf flathead has 6 spines in its first dorsal fin and 13-14 soft rays in