A flathead is one of a number of small to medium fish species with notably flat heads, distributed in membership across various genera of the familyPlatycephalidae. Many species are found in estuaries and the open ocean in the Indo-Pacific, especially most parts of Australia where they are popular sport and table fish. Flathead can grow at least 1 metre (3.3 ft) in length and 18 kilograms (40 lb) in weight, with dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus) being the biggest, although fish this size are seldom caught.[1]
Flathead are notable for their unusual body shape, which their hunting strategy is based upon. Flathead are dorsally compressed, meaning their body is wide but flattened and very low in height. Both eyes are on the top of the flattened head, giving excellent binocular vision to attack overhead prey. The effect is somewhat similar to flounders. In contrast to flounder, however, flathead are much more elongated, the tail remains vertical, and the mouth is large, wide and symmetrical. Flathead use this body structure to hide in sand (their body colour changes to match their background), with only their eyes visible, and explode upwards and outwards to engulf small fish and prawns as they drift over, using a combination of ram and suction feeding thereby improving their chances to catch prey. [2]
Flathead have two short spikes on either side of their heads and on top of their heads that contain venom. The venom, while not fatal, can cause pain and infection for no more than about 2 days. Some anglers believe the pain of the sting of the Flathead fish can be reduced by rubbing the slime of the belly of the same fish that caused the sting on the inflicted wound, due to a particular gland in its belly.[citation needed]
Habitatedit
Dusky flatheads (Platycephalus fuscus) are found in estuaries and coastal bays from Cairns in Queensland to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria. They occur over sand, mud, gravel and seagrass and can inhabit estuarine waters up to the tidal limit.[3]
Oceanic flathead species (sand flathead, tiger flathead, bar-tailed flathead) are, as named, generally located more offshore than the dusky flathead, frequenting the sandy zones around and between coastal reefs; although bar-tailed flathead occur in many estuarine environments, for example the Swan/Canning River System in Perth.[citation needed]
Fishermen catch flathead on a variety of baits and artificial lures all year round, but they are more commonly caught during summer. Only a handful of the many flathead species are regularly caught by fishermen. The Australian state of New South Wales has a substantial commercial flathead catch.
^"Dusky flathead monitoring". Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Queensland Government. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
^Prince, J.D. (2001). "Ecosystem of the South East Fishery (Australia), and fisher lore". Marine and Freshwater Research. 52 (4). CSIRO Publishing: 431–449. doi:10.1071/MF00042.
^Dianne J. Bray; CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research (2022). "Dusky Flathead, Platycephalus fuscus". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
-The biggest to be caught on record is 2.8 metres, just shy of 3 metres by Willem Powerfish of QLD, Australia
External linksedit
Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). Species of Platycephalidae in FishBase. January 2007 version.
Photos of several species of Crocodilefishes
January 01, 1970
flathead, fish, freshwater, marbled, flathead, pseudaphritis, urvillii, flathead, number, small, medium, fish, species, with, notably, flat, heads, distributed, membership, across, various, genera, family, platycephalidae, many, species, found, estuaries, open. For the freshwater or marbled flathead see Pseudaphritis urvillii A flathead is one of a number of small to medium fish species with notably flat heads distributed in membership across various genera of the family Platycephalidae Many species are found in estuaries and the open ocean in the Indo Pacific especially most parts of Australia where they are popular sport and table fish Flathead can grow at least 1 metre 3 3 ft in length and 18 kilograms 40 lb in weight with dusky flathead Platycephalus fuscus being the biggest although fish this size are seldom caught 1 Fringe lipped flathead Papua New Guinea Contents 1 Anatomy and morphology 2 Habitat 3 Importance to humans 4 See also 5 Notes 6 External linksAnatomy and morphology editFlathead are notable for their unusual body shape which their hunting strategy is based upon Flathead are dorsally compressed meaning their body is wide but flattened and very low in height Both eyes are on the top of the flattened head giving excellent binocular vision to attack overhead prey The effect is somewhat similar to flounders In contrast to flounder however flathead are much more elongated the tail remains vertical and the mouth is large wide and symmetrical Flathead use this body structure to hide in sand their body colour changes to match their background with only their eyes visible and explode upwards and outwards to engulf small fish and prawns as they drift over using a combination of ram and suction feeding thereby improving their chances to catch prey 2 Flathead have two short spikes on either side of their heads and on top of their heads that contain venom The venom while not fatal can cause pain and infection for no more than about 2 days Some anglers believe the pain of the sting of the Flathead fish can be reduced by rubbing the slime of the belly of the same fish that caused the sting on the inflicted wound due to a particular gland in its belly citation needed Habitat editDusky flatheads Platycephalus fuscus are found in estuaries and coastal bays from Cairns in Queensland to the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria They occur over sand mud gravel and seagrass and can inhabit estuarine waters up to the tidal limit 3 Oceanic flathead species sand flathead tiger flathead bar tailed flathead are as named generally located more offshore than the dusky flathead frequenting the sandy zones around and between coastal reefs although bar tailed flathead occur in many estuarine environments for example the Swan Canning River System in Perth citation needed nbsp Dusky flathead Platycephalus fuscusImportance to humans editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed September 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message Fishermen catch flathead on a variety of baits and artificial lures all year round but they are more commonly caught during summer Only a handful of the many flathead species are regularly caught by fishermen The Australian state of New South Wales has a substantial commercial flathead catch See also editPlatycephalusNotes edit Dusky flathead monitoring Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Queensland Government 22 April 2021 Retrieved 23 March 2023 Prince J D 2001 Ecosystem of the South East Fishery Australia and fisher lore Marine and Freshwater Research 52 4 CSIRO Publishing 431 449 doi 10 1071 MF00042 Dianne J Bray CSIRO Marine amp Atmospheric Research 2022 Dusky Flathead Platycephalus fuscus Fishes of Australia Retrieved 23 March 2023 The biggest to be caught on record is 2 8 metres just shy of 3 metres by Willem Powerfish of QLD AustraliaExternal links editFroese Rainer and Pauly Daniel eds 2007 Species of Platycephalidae in FishBase January 2007 version Photos of several species of Crocodilefishes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Flathead fish amp oldid 1216142650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
