Scientific Name
Ratabulus diversidens

Common Name
Freespine flathead

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12. This species is distinguished by the following characters: 80-93 anteroventrally slanted oblique scale rows above lateral line; snout length 29.5-32.3% HL, slightly decreasing proportionally with growth; pectoral fin length 13.9-15.8% SL; pelvic fin length 22.1-28.5% SL; nasal bone with tubercles in larger specimens; dorsal surface of head with large, pale to dark-brown irregularly shaped spots, body without spots dorsally; pelvic fin with large brown spots (Ref. 86254).

Classification

Classified By

McCulloch, 1914

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Flatheads (Platycephalidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Eastern Australia.

Range

17°S - 39°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

30 m

Depth To - meters

345 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 30 - 345 m (Ref. 86254)

Trophic Level

3.8 s.e. 0.63 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

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

39.1 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Low to moderate vulnerability (34 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated