Bartail flathead (Platycephalus indicus) fish species and information / pictures of Bartail flathead - Platycephalus indicus

Bartail flathead (Platycephalus indicus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Platycephalus indicus

Common Name
Bartail flathead

Biology
Found on sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters (Ref. 5213, 48635). Frequently in estuaries, juveniles have been taken in freshwater. Taken by handlining and seining in shallow waters and by trawling at depths to 30 m, usually less (Ref. 9790). A good food fish (Ref. 4315) that is marketed fresh (Ref. 5284). Commercially cultured in Japan. Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166).

Classification

Classified By
Linnaeus, 1758
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)
Family
Flatheads (Platycephalidae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-West Pacific
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines, north to southern Japan and Korea, south to northern Australia. Introduced into the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Range
32°N - 28°S

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
20 m
Depth To - meters
200 m
Zone
reef-associated
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 20 - 200 m (Ref. 36128)
Trophic Level
3.6 s.e. 0.59 Based on diet studies.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
True
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
100.0 cm
Common Length
60.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Vulnerability
Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=7)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Data deficient (DD)