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Mongrel tiger flathead (Platycephalus aurimaculatus) — Platycephalidae

Mongrel tiger flathead

Platycephalus aurimaculatus
NE · Not Evaluated

The Mongrel tiger flathead (Platycephalus aurimaculatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Platycephalidae that grows up to 55 cm.

Length
55 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
10.0–160.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The toothy flathead is a flathead from southern Australia. The species grows to about 55 cm and has a strongly flattened head and a rearward-tapering body, characteristic of the flatheads. As a bottom-dweller it lies half-buried on sand and mud bottoms of bays and coastal water to about 160 metres depth and, as an ambush hunter, seizes passing prey. There are spines on the gill cover. The fish is harmless to humans and has not been evaluated by the IUCN (NE).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Mongrel tiger flathead?

The Mongrel tiger flathead has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Mongrel tiger flathead live?

The Mongrel tiger flathead lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Mongrel tiger flathead get?

The Mongrel tiger flathead grows to a maximum of about 55 cm.

Is the Mongrel tiger flathead dangerous to humans?

No, the Mongrel tiger flathead is harmless to humans.

Is the Mongrel tiger flathead edible?

Yes, the Mongrel tiger flathead is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Tandige platkopvis verified
English name
Mongrel tiger flathead verified
Scientific name
Platycephalus aurimaculatus
Family
Platycephalidae
Other names
Tiger flathead; Toothy flathead; Yellow-finned flathead verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
55.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
160.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met aasvis of garnaal op zand- en modderbodems. sourced
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Platycephalus

More from the family Platycephalidae

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