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Northern Sand Flathead Platycephalus arenarius Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886
[CAAB 37 296021]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Coastal and estuarine waters of northern Australia from Carnarvon (Western Australia) to Jervis Bay (New South Wales); also recorded from Bali (Indonesia). Demersal on soft bottoms in shallow coastal waters to depths of 60 m.

Size:

Maximum length at least 46 cm; maximum weight at least 0.7 kg.

Food and feeding:

Primarily piscivorous, also large benthic crustaceans.

Characteristics:

D I, VI, I VII, VII, I or VIII, 13 or 14; A 13 or 14; C 13; P 19-21 (usually 20); V I, 5; Llat (pored) 68-83.

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length 31-32% SL), strongly depressed, with several low, mostly spineless ridges, lower side bicarinate; eyes moderately large (15-18% HL), iris lappet a simple elongated lobe; mouth large, extending to about level with front third of eye; teeth small, pointed on jaws, in a single transverse band on vomer and in a single row on each palatine, no enlarged canines; two strong preopercular spines at angle of preopercle, lower spine much longer than upper; first gill arch with 3 or 4 gill rakers on upper limb, 8-12 on lower limb; interopecular flap present. Scales small, finely ctenoid, covering body and most of head behind eyes; lateral line scales similar-sized to adjacent scales on side, 82-96 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, anteriormost scale usually with a small spine or ridge, a single pore opening. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine very short, detached, third spine longest. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, second ray longest, other decreasing gradually in length. Anal fin similar in shape, opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin rounded. Pectoral fins moderate sized. Pelvic fins long, broad, based below centre of pectoral fins. Swim bladder absent.

Colour:

Greyish to brownish dorsally with many small brown blotches giving a marbled appearance; a large dark blotch on underside of operculum; pale ventrally. Dorsal fins with small brown spots on rays; caudal fin white with 5 or 6 dark brownish horizontal streaks which become narrower dorsally; pectoral and pelvic fins with small brown spots forming bands; anal fin whitish.

Fisheries:

Taken by anglers from sandy beaches and by trawls.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

Sand Flathead, Flagtail Flathead, Flag-tail Flathead, Northern-flag Tailed Flathead.

Original citation:

Platycephalus arenarius Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886, Proc. Linn. N.S.W. 10(4): 577, Middle Harbour, Port Jackson, New South Wales.

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 (15 March, 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.

Imamura, H. (2006) Rediagnosis of the marbled flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Platycephalidae), with comments on the composition of the type series. Species Diversity 11: 295-306.

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.

McCulloch, A.R. (1915) Report on some fishes obtained by the F. I. S. "Endeavour" on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia, Part III. Biol. Results "Endeavour" 3(3): 97-170.

Yearsley, G.K., Last, P.R. & Ward, R.D. (2001) Australian Seafood Handbook: an identification guide to domestic species. FRDC / CSIRO Marine Research, 469 pp.