Platycephalus endrachtensis
Bar-tailed flathead | |
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Drawing of P. endrachtensis | |
Dorsal side of P. endrachtensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
Family: | Platycephalidae |
Genus: | Platycephalus |
Species: | P. endrachtensis
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Binomial name | |
Platycephalus endrachtensis | |
Synonyms | |
Platycephalus endrachtensis, or the bar-tailed flathead,bar-tail Flathead, flag-tail flathead, northern sand flathead, northern-flag tailed flathead, sand flathead, western estuary flathead, is a predatory fish in the family Platycephalidae. It is found in the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, including Australia and Indonesia in temperatures between 17 and 28 degrees, in shallow waters to 60 metres deep over sand. The maximum length is 62 cm, and weight to 5 kilograms. A popular angling species,the specific epithet endrachtensis refers to Dirk Hartog's ship the Endracht. Other common names include northern sand flathead, flagtail flathead, northern-flag tailed flathead, sand flathead. Venomous spines are hazardous for safe handling.[1][2][3]
Description
Platycephalus endrachtensis has a sandy pale brown to tan coloration for camouflage.[2] [4] It has an recognizable tail with horizontal black lines.[2][5] The species could be differentiated to the similiar P.australis by having two dark horizontal bars on the caudal fin on and a yellow blotch on the middle fin, and P. westraliae by a triangular upper iris lappet.[5]
Behaviour
They are harmless to humans, and are normally seen on the ocean floor, if provoked, they will burst from the sand quickly and settle again nearby.[4][3]
Range and habitat
They live Australia from Hamelin Bay to St Helens, Tasmania and Indonesia,[5] and spawn in the Swan River Estuary from late Spring to the start of Autumn.[6]
Diet
The species feed on fish and sometimes large benthic crustaceans.[5]
References
- ^ "Northern Sand Flathead, Australian National Fish Collection, CSIRO & Bray, D.J. 2021, Platycephalus bassensis in Fishes of Australia,". Fishes of Australia. CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Northern Sand Flathead, Platycephalus endrachtensis". Discover & Learn. Australian Museum. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
{{cite web}}
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timestamp mismatch; 28 November 2021 suggested (help) - ^ a b "Bar-tailed Flathead, Platycephalus endrachtensis". Fishbase. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Northern sand flathead (Platycephalus endrachtensis". Redmap. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ a b c d "Platycephalus endrachtensis". fishesofaustralia.net.au. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ Coulson, Peter Graham. "The biology of three teleost species with divergent life cycle characteristics and their implication for fisheries management" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2021.
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timestamp mismatch; 29 November 2021 suggested (help)