Family Platycephalidae

Platycephalidae

Taxonomy: Nelson (2006) includes some 65 valid species of platycephalids in 18 genera. The taxonomy of the family is confused and in need of revision. We treat 44 Australian species within 15 genera.

Distribution, ecology and habitat: The family is widespread primarily in the Indo Pacific, also occurring westward to the Red Sea and southern Africa. Benthic, commonly occurring on mud or sand bottoms from estuaries to about 300m depth on the upper continental slope. The family contains a number of widespread species, as well as localised endemics, further investigation is required to ascertain the status of species complexes and potentially cryptic taxa.

Characteristics:
Body elongate; head moderately to strongly depressed; bony ridges of head frequently bearing sharp spines and serrations; body mostly bearing ctenoid scales, cycloid scales often present ventrally; pelvic fins behind pectoral base; mouth large; lower jaw extending beyond upper when mouth closed. Ocular and interopercular flaps variably developed; eye partly directed upward. Teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines generally caniniform; some species with stout canines. First dorsal fin with VI-X spines; first spine short, isolated or poorly connected to second spine; second dorsal fin with 10-15 soft rays, lacking spines; anal fin lacking spines.

Size: Maximum size greatly variable, from about 10 cm to 120 cm.

Food and feeding: Feed mainly on small fish and crustaceans. Generally ambush predators, will bury in mud with only eyes and upper parts of head exposed, some species are also active foragers.

Reproduction and early life history: Knowledge of the life history and reproduction of flathead varies greatly, species targeted by commercial and recreational fishers are generally well studied, whereas little is known of many non-target species. A number of commercially important species are known to spawn over the warmer months, with mature animals of some species moving to shallow water prior to spawning.

Fisheries: A number of species are regarded as excellent eating and are targeted by recreational and commercial fishers, with several species being important commercially. Commonly caught by line, gillnet and trawl.

Australian species:

References:

Eschmeyer, W.N. (2008) The Catalogue of Fishes on-line. (California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco) Available from: http://www.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp (12 June, 2008).

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. (2006) Fishes. In: P.L. Beesley & A. Wells (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia Volume 35. Parts 1-3. Australian Biological Resources Study and CSIRO Publishing, 2248 pp.

Kailola, P.J., Williams, M.J., Stewart, P.C., Reichelt, R.E., McNee, A. & Grieve, C. (eds) (1993) Australian fisheries resources. Bureau of Resource Sciences, Australia & Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. 422 p.

Knapp, L.W. (1999) Family Platycephalidae, flatheads, pp. 2385-2421. In: K.E. Carpenter & V.H. Niem (eds). FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 4: Bony Fishes Part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome.

Nelson, J.S. (2006). Fishes of the World. 4th Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y.