| Family: |
Platycephalidae (Flatheads) |
| Max. size: |
65 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 3,000.0 g; max. reported age: 12 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; marine; depth range 10 - 400 m |
| Distribution: |
Southwest Pacific: known only from Coffs Harbor in northern New South Wales to Portland in Victoria, including Bass Strait and Tasmania. |
| Diagnosis: |
|
| Biology: |
Found in inshore waters over the continental shelf. Sometimes entering coastal bays (Ref. 9563). Tiger flathead are not active fish and will normally rest on the sea bed during the day in areas of mud and sand substrate (Ref. 6390). They may migrate into the water column at night following prey species (Ref. 27197). Adults feed mainly on small fish such as silversides and three-spined cardinal fish (Ref. 27193) while juveniles feed primarily on crustaceans including krill. The young inhabit shallow waters of the continental shelf and move into the outer shelf zone as they reach maturity (Ref. 6390). Its fin spines are venomous and can inflict mild to severe pain (Ref. 125684). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
venomous |
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