Bar-tailed flathead

📖 Overview

Bar-tailed flathead (Platycephalus endrachtensis) is a ray-finned fish of the family Platycephalidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in benthic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 45 cm. With a trophic level of 4.4, it is an apex predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished by the following characters: a single small isolated dorsal spine anteriorly; second dorsal and anal fin rays usually 13; snout long, 28.5-31.0% HL; larger specimens with interorbit narrow 7.7-12.0% HL; postorbital short, 50.7-56.4% HL; posterior portion of snout and interorbital covered with scales; upper iris lappet triangular; skinny sensory tubes from the suborbital bones and preopercle not covering the cheek region; preopercule with 2 spines, the lower slightly longer than the upper; fingerlike interopercular flap; a single exterior opening of the lateral line scales; head and body pale brown, with many small brownish spots dorsally, 4 or more dark longitudinal bands on caudal fin, and upper lobe of caudal fin lacking yellow blotch when fresh .

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Bar-tailed flathead is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal. Tropical Indian Ocean to Western Pacific: Australia and Indonesia.

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .

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