Platycephalus endrachtensis
| Bar-tailed flathead | |
|---|---|
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| Drawing of P. endrachtensis | |
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| Dorsal side of P. endrachtensis | |
Scientific classification 
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| 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.[1] It is found from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, including in Australian and Indonesian waters up to 60 m (200 ft) deep over sand, at temperatures between 17 and 18 °C (63 and 64 °F). The maximum length of the species is 62 cm (24 in), and its weight up to 5 kg (11 lb). A popular angling species, the specific epithet endrachtensis refers to Eendraghtsland, an early Dutch name for Australia, with the suffix -ensis, meaning "place" .[1] Venomous spines are hazardous for safe handling.[1]
Description
Platycephalus endrachtensis has a sandy pale brown to tan coloration for camouflage.[2][3] It is recognised by the black spots on its tail.[2] The species can be differentiated from the similiar P. australis from the two dark horizontal bars on the caudal fin and the yellow blotch on the middle fin, and from P. westraliae by a triangular lappet above the upper iris.[1]It is found from the eastern Indian Ocean to the western Pacific, including in Australian and Indonesian waters up to 60 m (200 ft) deep over sand, at temperatures between 17 and 18 °C (63 and 64 °F). The maximum length of the species is 62 cm (24 in), and its weight up to 5 kg (11 lb). Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). It is also found in Indonesia.[1]
Diet
The fish is an ambush predator, altering its skin colouring by "arranging [its] pigments within chormatophores" ( A.J. Hirst,2014) [4] and feeds on fish and sometimes large benthic crustaceans.[1]
Relations to humans
The species is edible, with the advised range about 42–55 cm (17–22 in), as any size bigger will cause harder and drier meat, and any smaller will contain too low levels of meat.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Platycephalus endrachtensis". fishesofaustralia.net.au. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
:2was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Northern sand flathead (Platycephalus endrachtensis". Redmap. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ^ "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.