Platycephalus laevigatus | |
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A rock flathead (Platycephalus laevigatus) at Sandy Bay in the Derwent River, Hobart, Tasmania. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Scorpaeniformes |
Family: | Platycephalidae |
Genus: | Platycephalus |
Species: | P. laevigatus |
Binomial name | |
Platycephalus laevigatus G. Cuvier, 1829 | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Platycephalus laevigatus, the rock flathead, black flathead, grass flathead, king flathead, marbled-bellied flathead, Port Albert flathead, smooth flathead or Southern rock flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is endemic to Australia.
Platycephalus laevigatus was first formally described in 1829 by the French zoologist Georges Cuvier with the type locality given as Western Port in Victoria. [2] The specific name laevigatus means "smoothed" and refers to the smooth head, lacking any spines or ridges, of this species. [3]
Platycephalus laevigatus has a slightly flattened, elongate body with a small head which is also slightly flattened and is smooth, lacking ridges. The large eyes are positioned well forward on the head and have a single, lobed lappet. The mouth is large and has small pointed teeth in a band on the jaws with no enlarged canine-like teeth. The two spines on the peroperculum are moderately sized and are sited on its angle, the upper spine is the longer one. The first dorsal fin is short based and has 8 or 9 spines, usually 9, with the first spine being very small and separated. The second dorsal fin has a relatively long base as does the anal fin, the second dorsal fin has 14 or 15 soft rays while the anal fin between 13 and 15 soft rays. The caudal fin is rounded. The background colour is greenish to pale brown flathead marked with darker bars across the back. There is a broken stripe in the middle of the flanks and the tail is yellow with dark spots. Some specimens may be patterned with spots or marbling. [4] The maximum published total length of this species is 50 cm (20 in). [1]
Platycephalus laevigatus is endemic to Australia where it is found from Greenwell Point in New South Wales to Geographe Bay in Western Australia, its range extends around Tasmania too. It occurs on rocky reefs, sand and seagrass beds in coastal waters down to at least 20 m (66 ft). [4]
Platycephalus laevigatus, unlike many of its congeners prefers to resting on the hard substrate in areas of sea weed and seagrass, rather than burying itself in the sediment. It is carnivorous, feeding largely on fishes and on large benthic crustaceans. It is typically crepuscular and nocturnal. [4]
Platycephalus laevigatus is of minor importance to commercial fisheries and is landed in small numbers using beach seines and gillnets. [4]
Platycephalus is a genus of mostly marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. They are found in the eastern Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
The tentacled flathead, also known as the Indian Ocean crocodilefish, Madagascar flathead or longhead flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, having invaded as a Lessepsian migrant through the Suez Canal. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Papilloculiceps.
The bartail flathead, also known as the Indian flathead, gobi or Indo-Pacific flathead, is a species of largely marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is found in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean, and has invaded the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Platycephalus speculator, the southern bluespotted flathead, Castelnau's flathead, deepwater flathead, king flathead, Lakes Entrance flathead, longnose flathead, shovelnose flathead, Southern dusky flathead, Southern flathead or yank flathead, is a common species of flathead. This species is endemic to southern Australia.
Platycephaloidei is a suborder of ray-finned fishes, part of the order Scorpaeniformes, and includes the flatheads, ghost flatheads and sea robins.
The mud flathead is a species of flathead endemic to the Pacific coastal waters of Australia where it occurs at depths of from 15 to 53 metres on the continental shelf. This species is the only known member of its genus.
Cymbacephalus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
The dwarf flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Elates.
The spiny flathead, also known as the whitefin flathead or Bengal flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region. This species is the only known member of its genus.
The Longhead flathead, also known as the crocodile flathead or weed flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is endemic to reefs in the coastal waters of southern Australia.
Rogadius is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
Insidiator is a genus of marine, demersal ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae. These fishes are native to the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean.
Platycephalus bassensis the Southern sand flathead, Bass flathead, bay flathead, common flathead, sand flathead, sandy, sandy flathead, slimy flathead or yanks, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is endemic to Australia.
Bambradon is a monotypic genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bembridae, the deepwater flatheads. Its only species, Bambradon laevis, is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean off Japan.
The crocodile flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
The brownmargin flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found off northern Australia.
The spotted flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Inegocia japonica, the Japanese flathead, rusty flathead or smooth flathead, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
The halfspined flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is found in the western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.
The tuberculated flathead is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Platycephalidae, the flatheads. This species is found in Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.