Platycephalus endrachtensis
| Bar-tailed flathead | |
|---|---|
| |
| Drawing of P. endrachtensis | |
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| Dorsal side of P. endrachtensis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: | Platycephalidae |
| Genus: | Platycephalus |
| Species: | P. endrachtensis
|
| 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 Eendraghtsland, an early Dutch name for Australia, and the suffix "-ensis", meaning "place" .[1] 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 black spots.[2] 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.[1]
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, with the type locality in Shark Bay,[1] and spawn in the Swan River Estuary from late Spring to the start of Autumn.[5]
Diet
They are ambush predators, altering their skin colors by "arranging their pigments within chormatophores" ( A.J. Hirst,2014) [6] and feed on fish and sometimes large benthic crustaceans.[1]
Relations to humans
The species is edible, with the advised range about 42 to 55 cm, as any size bigger will cause harder and drier meat, and any smaller will contain too low levels of meat.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Platycephalus endrachtensis". fishesofaustralia.net.au. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ 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}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 28 November 2021 suggested (help) - ^ a b "Bar-tailed Flathead, Platycephalus endrachtensis". Fishbase. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Northern sand flathead (Platycephalus endrachtensis". Redmap. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. 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.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 29 November 2021 suggested (help) - ^ "The decline of sand flathead stocks in Port Phillip Bay: magnitude, causes and future prospects". ResearchGate. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021.
- ^ "What species of flathead? ( Northern Sand Flathead)". fishraider.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021.