Cociella somaliensis is a species of demersal, marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads.

[2] Cociella somaliensis was first formally described in 1996 by Leslie William Knapp with the type locality given as south of Ras Hafun in Somalia.

In the lateral line the pored scales at the front end have spines.

The upper body is pale tan in colour, marked with a scattering of small dark spots.

[4] Cociella somaliensis is found in the north western Indian Ocean where it has been recorded off Somalia and off southern Oman at depths between 30 and 49 m (98 and 161 ft) and its habitat appears to be muddy or sandy seabeds.