Marbled Flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus Stead 1908


Other Names: Flathead

A Marbled Flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus, in Nelson Bay, New South Wales, June 2008. Source: Tom Davis / iNaturalist.org. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:
A sandy-coloured flathead becoming whitish below, with a distinctive marbled pattern of pale and dark spots and blotches in 5 broad bands along the back and upper sides, small darker blotches along the lower sides, and eyes with a large circular iris lappet. The caudal fin is mostly dark brown (darkest submarginally), paler basally, with a broad white posterior margin, with no horizontal bars.

Cite this page as:
CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research & Bray, D.J. 2020, Platycephalus marmoratus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3362

Marbled Flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus Stead 1908

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to temperate inshore and continental shelf waters of Australia from off Caloundra (Queensland) to Flinders Island (Tasmania). Inhabits soft sediment areas usually at depths of 20-80 m, preferring offshore waters. Juveniles frequently enter shallow bays and estuaries.

Features

Dorsal fin I, VII or VIII, 13; Anal fin 13; Caudal fin 11-13; Pectoral fin 19-22; Pelvic fin I, 5; Lateral line scales (pored) 63-70.

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length 28-30% SL), strongly depressed, with several prominent, smooth ridges; a single preocular spine present; eyes small (14-15% HL), iris lappet broad, simple; mouth large, extending to level of anterior third of eye; teeth of upper jaw small, villiform, more enlarged and canine-like near symphysis only, a single patch of canines and smaller teeth on vomer, two series (one series of large teeth with a secondary series of minute teeth outside) of teeth on palantines, no greatly enlarged canines; two strong preopercular spines at angle of preopercle, lower slightly longer than upper, accessory spine ventrally present rarely; 2 gill rakers on lower limb, 7-11 on upper limb of first gill arch rudimentary; interopecular flap absent. Scales small, finely ctenoid (some cycloid on ventral surface), covering body, most of head behind eyes and operculum, interorbit and snout naked; lateral line scales not differentiated from adjacent scales on side, 107-119 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, no scales with spines or ridges, single pored. First dorsal fin spinous with short base, first spine very short but distinct, third spines the longest. Second dorsal fin with moderately long base, second ray longest, others decreasing in length posteriorly. Anal fin similar in shape, but with shorter rays which increase in length slightly posteriorly; opposite and slightly longer-based than second dorsal fin. Caudal fin truncate or slightly rounded. Pectoral fins broad and rounded. Pelvic fins large, based below centre of pectoral fins.

Size

Maximum length at least 61 cm TL.

Colour

Reddish brown to yellowish brown dorsally, with 5 broad, darker cross bands (1st at origin of dorsal, last at its termination) and a mottled pattern of pale and dark spots and blotches; whitish ventrally. Caudal fin mostly dark brown (darkest submarginally), paler basally, with a broad white posterior margin, without horizontal bars; dorsal fins translucent, brown spots on spines and rays; pectoral fins greyish with pale margins; pelvic fins darker brown with striking white margins; anal fin whitish.

Feeding

Ambush predator, presumably feeds mostly on fishes, and also large benthic crustaceans.

Conservation

Not evaluated.

Remarks

Until the description of Platycephalus orbitalisP. marmoratus was thought to also occur in Western Australia.

Etymology

The species is named marmoratus in reference to the marbled body pattern.

Species Citation

Platycephalus marmoratus Stead, 1908, New Fishes N.S.W.: 9, pls 3-5, off Port Stephens, New South Wales.

Author

CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research & Bray, D.J. 2020

Resources

Atlas of Living Australia

Marbled Flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus Stead 1908

References


Coleman, N. 1980. Australian Sea Fishes South of 30ºS. Lane Cove, NSW : Doubleday Australia Pty Ltd 309 pp. 

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp.

Imamura, H. 1996. Phylogeny of the family Platycephalidae and related taxa (Pisces: Scorpaeniformes). Species Diversity 1(2): 123-233

Imamura, H. 2006. Rediagnosis of the marbled flathead, Platycephalus marmoratus (Actinopterygii: Teleostei: Platycephalidae), with comments on the composition of the type series. Species Diversity 11: 295-306.

Imamura, H. 2015. Taxonomic revision of the flathead fish genus PlatycephalusBloch, 1785 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) from Australia, with description of a new species. Zootaxa 3904(2): 151-207. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3904.2.1

Imamura, H. & Knapp, L.W. 2009. Platycephalus orbitalis, a new species of flathead (Teleostei: Platycephalidae) collected from western Australia. Zootaxa 2271: 57-63

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp.

Kuiter, R. & Kuiter, S. 2018. Coastal sea-fishes of south-eastern Australia. Seaford, Victoria : Aquatic Photographics, 371 pp.

McCulloch, A.R. 1916. Report on some fishes obtained by the F. I. S. "Endeavour" on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part IV. Biol. Results "Endeavour" 4(4): 169-199.

Stead, D.G. 1908. New fishes from New South Wales (No. 1). Department of Fisheries, New South Wales, Sydney. New Fishes N.S.W. 12 pp.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37296038

Danger:Venomous spines

Depth:3-80m (usually >20m)

Habitat:Sandy & rubble areas

Max Size:61 cm TL

Native:Endemic

Species Image Gallery

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map