Marbled Flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus Stead, 1908

Scientific name: Platycephalus marmoratus
juvenile Marbled Flathead Click to enlarge image
A juvenile Marbled Flathead at a depth of 12 m, Gordon's Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, December, 2000. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Platycephalus
    Species
    marmoratus
    Family
    Platycephalidae
    Order
    Scorpaeniformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia

Introduction

The Marbled Flathead has an elongate body covered with small ctenoid scales. The species lives in marine waters on sandy or rubbly bottoms.

Identification

The Marbled Flathead has an elongate body covered with small ctenoid scales. Its colouration is variable but adults usually have white borders to the caudal, anal and ventral fins, and a distinctive marbled pattern dorsally.

Habitat

The species lives in marine waters on sandy or rubbly bottoms. Adults live at depths between 20 m and 80 m, but juveniles are commonly found in water as shallow as 3 m.

Distribution

The Marbled Flathead is recorded from south-eastern Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Imamura, H. & L.W. Knapp. 2009. Platycephalus orbitalis, a new species of flathead (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) collected from western Australia. Zootaxa. 2271: 57–63.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.