Bigtooth Flathead, Platycephalus chauliodous Knapp 1991


Other Names: Large-toothed Flathead

Cite this page as:
CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research, Platycephalus chauliodous in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/3366

Bigtooth Flathead, Platycephalus chauliodous Knapp 1991

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to coastal and inshore waters of southwest Australia from Cape Freycinet to north of Rottnest Island. Demersal on soft bottoms and near rocky reefs in 0-50 m (usually <10 m) depth.

Features

D 0-I, VII, I, 14 or 15; A 13 or 14; (usually 13); C 10 or 11 (usually 11); P 19 or 20; V I, 5; Llat (pored) 59-65.

Body elongate, slightly depressed. Head large (length ~32% SL), depressed, with several low, mostly spineless ridges, lower side slightly bicarinate; eyes small (~11% HL), round, mouth large, extending to about level with anterior margin of eye; jaws, vomer and palatines with enlarged canines (becoming smaller anteriorly on jaws), vomer crescent-like; two strong, similar-sized preopercular spines at angle of preopercle; first gill arch with 2 gill rakers on upper limb, 9 or 10 on lower limb. Scales small, finely ctenoid, covering body and nape, top of head naked; 90-100 oblique rows of scales above lateral line, lacking spines, a single pore opening.

Size

Maximum length at least 47 cm.

Colour

Reddish brown dorsally with dark spots; sides yellowish brown with dark brown spots; ventrally white, cheeks bright yellow. Dorsal fins hyaline with brownish pink spots on rays and spines; caudal fin rays reddish brown with hyaline connections; pectoral fins with reddish brown spots superiorly, orange brown spots inferiorly; pelvic fins orange brown with 8 or 9 brownish green cross bars; anal fin white with orange spots on rays.

Feeding

Presumably primarily piscivorous, also large benthic crustaceans.

Fisheries

Infrequently taken from shallow coastal reefs.

Conservation

Not evaluated.

Species Citation

Platycephalus chauliodous Knapp, 1991, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 104(1): 23-29. Type locality: Cockburn Sound, 1/2 kilometer south of Carnac Island, Western Australia, depth 6-7 m.p>

Author

CSIRO Marine & Atmospheric Research

Bigtooth Flathead, Platycephalus chauliodous Knapp 1991

References


Eschmeyer, W.N. (2008) The Catalog of Fishes on-line. (California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco) Available from: http://www.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatmain.asp (15 March, 2008).

Hutchins, B. & Swainston, R. (1986) Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Swainston Publishing, Perth. 179 pp.

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

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

Knapp, L.W. (1991) Platycephalus chauliodous, a new flathead fish from the eastern Indian Ocean (Teleostei: Platycephalidae). Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 104(1): 23-29. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/108199#page/9/mode/1up

Paxton, J.R., D.F. Hoese, J.E. Gates & D.J. Bray. 2006. Platycephalidae (pp. 933-948). In: P.L. Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells (eds.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. Parts 1-3. Australian Biological Resources Study and CSIRO Publishing, 2248 pp.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37296039

Danger:venomous spines

Depth:1-40 m

Feeding:carnivore

Fishing:Recreational

Habitat:Soft bottoms

Max Size:470

Native:endemic

Species Maps

CAAB distribution map