Platycephalus angustus Steindachner 1866

Other Names: Steindachner’s Flathead

An illustration of Platycephalus angustus . Source: . License:

Summary:

This relatively rare flathead is usually found in creeks, rivers and river mouths, rather than coastal waters.

Identifying features:
Body with 3-5 dark brown to blackish bands, caudal fin with 4 blackish bands and spots on upper margin;
Teeth present on front-side edge of the upper jaw – visible when mouth closed;
Soft dorsal and anal-fin rays usually 13, two anteriormost dorsal-fin spines small and isolated from rest of fin;
Eye relatively small, postorbital region long, interorbital space wide, suborbital region narrow;
Vomerine tooth rows increase from 2-4 rows in smaller fish, to form a single broad band of numerous rows in larger specimens.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray, Platycephalus angustus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 21 Jan 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/4861

Platycephalus angustus Steindachner 1866

More Info

Distribution	Known in Australian waters from the Wyndham area, Western Australia, to Townsville, Queensland; found elsewhere in the tropical West Pacific (western New Guinea). Usually inhabits creeks, rivers and river mouths - rarely found along the coast - in depths of 0.5-2 metres.
Features	Meristic features: Sucking disc lamellae: 18-28 Dorsal-fin spines/rays: 0–I + I + VI–VII + 0–I, usually I + I + VII + I, 13-14 (usually 13) Anal-fin rays: 13 Pectoral-fin rays: 18-20 (usually 19) Caudal-fin rays (branched): 13 Pored lateral line scales: 64-74 Gill rakers: 1–3 + 6–10 = 8–12
Conservation	EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed IUCN Red List : Not Evaluated
Species Citation	Platycephalus angustus Steindachner, 1866, Anzeiger der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, Wien 3: 20. Type locality (neotype): northeast of Darbilla Creek, Millingimbi, Northern Territory, Australia, 0-2 m depth [12°09'S, 134°56'E].
Author	Dianne J. Bray

Platycephalus angustus Steindachner 1866

References

Imamura, H. 2013. Redescription of Platycephalus angustus Steindachner 1866 (Teleostei: Platycephalidae), a valid flathead in northern Australia and New Guinea. Ichthyological Research: Online DOI 10.1007/s10228-012-0319-6.

Steindachner, F. 1866. Fortsetzung der ichthyologischen Notizen. Anzeiger der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse, Wien 3: 19-20.

Steindachner, F. 1866. Ichthyologische Notizen (III). Über einige neue Fischarten aus Südamerika. Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften 53(1): 208-214, Pls. 1-2.

Steindachner, F. 1866. New fishes from South America. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 3 17(101): 311-312. [312]