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Tiger Flathead Platycephalus richardsoni Castelnau, 1872
[CAAB 37 296001]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Continental shelf of southeastern Australia, from off Coffs Harbour (New South Wales) to Investigator Strait (South Australia), including Bass Strait and Tasmania. Demersal on sand and silt bottoms at depths of 10-160 m.

Size:

Maximum length at least 65 cm TL; maximum weight at least 2.9 kg.

Food and feeding:

Primarily piscivorous, also large benthic crustaceans. Have a swim bladder allowing them to feed in midwater.

Characteristics:

D VIII-IX, 14; A 14 (rarely 13); C 15; P 19-20 (rarely 17, 18 and 21); V I, 5; Llat (pored) 64-74.

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length 31-34% SL), depressed, with several low, mostly spineless ridges; eyes large (21-25% HL) with small iris lappet; mouth large with greatly enlarged canines on jaws, palatines and on vomer; two strong, similar-sized preopercular spines at angle of preopercle; gill rakers on lower limb of first arch long and slender dorsally, shorter ventrally, 2 or 3 on lower limb, 10-12 on upper limb. Scales small, finely ctenoid, covering body and most of head behind eyes; lateral line scales slightly larger than adjacent scales on side, ~90 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, anteriormost 1-3 scales 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 fourth spine of first dorsal fin. Anal fin similar in shape, opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin truncate. Pectoral fins moderately small. Pelvic fins long, broad, based below centre of pectoral fins. Swim bladder present.

Colour:

Grey-brown dorsally with numerous small reddish orange spots, often several large greyish blotches along midline of sides; whitish ventrally. Fins with spots of moderate size; caudal fin mostly dusky, especially toward centre of hind margin, pale basally, with a few small faint dusky blotches dorsally.

Fisheries:

An extremely important commercial species within its range, taken by trawl and Danish seine; most abundant flathead caught in Victorian waters in the South East Fishery. Also a significant recreational species, taken by hook and line from inshore areas (e.g. Port Phillip Bay), primarily in the summer months.

Conservation Status:

None.

Other common names:

Deepsea Flathead, Flathead, King Flathead, Toothy Flathead, Trawl Flathead, Spiky Flathead, Teethies.

Original citation:

Platycephalus richardsoni Castelnau, 1872, Proc. Zool. Acclim. Soc. Vict. 1: 8, Melbourne Market, Victoria.

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.

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.

Tilzey, R.D.J. (1994) The South East Fishery. Bureau of Resource Sciences, Canberra. 360 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.