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