Ratabulus

Ratabulus flatheads have two or more preopercular spines have at least 2 spines on the preoperculum, with the upper spine being the longest. There is no elongation of the upper lobe of the caudal fin with no elongated filament extending out from that fin. The first dorsal fin has between 8 or 9 spines. the second being equal in height to the third, while the second dorsal fin has no more than 12 soft rays. There are 2 separate patches of vomerine teeth. There are between 48 and 56 pored scales, each with 2 pores, on the lateral line with spines on the scales in the anterior portion of that line. The diagonal rows of scales run downwards and backwards over lateral line and the number of these rows is roughly about equal to the number of scales in the lateral line, typically with a difference of only 1 or 2 scales. The canine-like teeth in the jaws are depressible. There are 3 or more spines below the eye on a suborbital ridge and the lappet on the iris is pointed.^[6] The maximum length attained by these fishes varies from a standard length of 12.5 cm (4.9 in) in R. humerosus to 39.1 cm (15.4 in) in R. diversidens.^[5]

Ratabulus flatheads are found in the far east of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.^[5] One species, R. prionotus, has moved through the Suez Canal to be recorded as a Lessepsian migrant in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.^[7]