Tiger flathead (Platycephalus richardsoni) fish species and information / pictures of Tiger flathead - Platycephalus richardsoni

Tiger flathead (Platycephalus richardsoni) fish species information

Scientific Name
Platycephalus richardsoni

Common Name
Tiger flathead

Biology
Found in inshore waters over the continental shelf. Sometimes entering coastal bays (Ref. 9563). Tiger flathead are not active fish and will normally rest on the sea bed during the day in areas of mud and sand substrate (Ref. 6390). They may migrate into the water column at night following prey species (Ref. 27197). Adults feed mainly on small fish such as silversides and three-spined cardinal fish (Ref. 27193) while juveniles feed primarily on crustaceans including krill. The young inhabit shallow waters of the continental shelf and move into the outer shelf zone as they reach maturity (Ref. 6390).

Classification

Classified By
Castelnau, 1872
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)
Family
Flatheads (Platycephalidae)

Distribution

Region
Southwest Pacific
Distribution
Southwest Pacific: known only from Coffs Harbor in northern New South Wales to Portland in Victoria, including Bass Strait and Tasmania.
Range
30°S - 44°S

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
10 m
Depth To - meters
400 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 10 - 400 m (Ref. 26613), usually ? - 200 m (Ref. 26613)
Trophic Level
3.87 s.e. 0.62 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
65.0 cm
Common Length
Unknown 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; gamefish: yes
Vulnerability
Moderate vulnerability (39 of 100)
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.17-0.38; tm=4-5; tmax=12, Fec=1.5 million)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated