| Family: |
Platycephalidae (Flatheads) |
| Max. size: |
46 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 3,100.0 g |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 100 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: known only from southern Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 18-20. This species differs from Platycephalus westraliae in having the following characters: both second dorsal and anal fin rays usually 14 (vs. 13), total gill rakers 18-20 (vs. 10); palatine with a tooth band comprised of several irregular rows of conical teeth (vs. with an inner larger conical and an outer smaller villiform tooth rows); caudal fin with several small pale brown spots on the upper lobe and one or two large dark brown or black spots on the lower lobe, and with concave posterior margin (vs. with 3 dark bands and with mostly straight posterior margin) (Ref. 86914). |
| Biology: |
Inhabit coastal waters from shallow bays and inlets to depths of about 100 m over sand, shell grit and mud substrates (Ref. 6390). Sand flathead are usually solitary but may form loose aggregations (Ref. 2165, 27247). They sometimes move long distances (Ref. 6390). They are active foragers and ambush predators (Ref. 6390), occasionally are scavengers (Ref. 6390). Feed on crustaceans and fish (Ref. 2165). Its fin spines are venomous, can inflict mild to severe pain (Ref. 125684). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
