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Toothy Flathead Platycephalus aurimaculatus Knapp, 1987
[CAAB 37 296035]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Continental shelf of the south coast of Australia from eastern Bass Strait (Port Phillip Bay) and Tasmania to South Australia. Demersal on soft bottoms in bays and coastal waters at depths of 10-160 m.

Size:

Maximum length at least 55 cm.

Food and feeding:

Primarily piscivorous, also large benthic crustaceans.

Characteristics:

D IX (rarely VIII), 14; A 14 (rarely 13 or 15); C 15; P 16-20 (rarely 20); V I, 5; Llat (pored) 75-85.

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length 29-33% SL), depressed, with several low, mostly spineless ridges; eyes large (19-23% HL) with long iris lappet; mouth large with greatly enlarged canines on tip of upper jaw and on palatines, somewhat smaller teeth in lower jaw and on vomer; two strong preopercular spines at angle of preopercle, lower slightly larger than upper; gill rakers on lower limb of first arch rudimentary, stumpy rather than long and slender. Scales small, finely ctenoid, covering body and most of head behind eyes; lateral line scales slightly larger than adjacent scales on side, ~88-94 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, anteriormost scale with small spine or ridge. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine very short, detached, following spines much longer. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, anterior rays longest, nearly as long as longest first dorsal spines. Anal fin similar in shape, opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin truncate to slightly rounded. Pectoral fins moderately small. Pelvic fins long, based below centre of pectoral fins. Swim bladder absent.

Colour:

Sandy greyish brown dorsally with numerous small yellow or golden spots and some scattered larger white spots over head and body, sometimes darker blotches posteriorly. Caudal fin pale with distinct, irregular, moderate-sized yellowish spots or bands; pectoral and pelvic fins with large yellowish blotches.

Fisheries:

Usually taken in trawls but is occasionally caught on hook and line.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

Mongrel Tiger Flathead, Yellowfinned Flathead, Tiger Flathead.

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).

Gomon, M.F., Glover, J.C.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (1994) The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide, 992 pp.

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.

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.