Flatheads

Common family name

Flatheads

Alias

Crocodilefish

Scientific name

Platycephalidae

Size

Up to 1m, average 30 cm

Identification

Flatheads, as their name suggests, have big, flat, pointy heads. They are camouflaged in colour in black, white, brown and beige, varying from light to dark.

General Info

Flatheads belong to the Platycephalidae family which comprises of 18 genera and 60 species. Their bodies are round when swimming. Flatheads are bottom-dwelling fish, camouflaging themselves or hidings in the sand to attack their prey by surprise. When they are near enough, they gulp their prey. These fish are pelagic spawners.

Feeding

Flatheads feed on crustaceans and small fish.

Distribution

They can be found in all tropical and temperate waters across the world.

Common species

Bartail flathead (Platycephalus indicus)
Broadhead flathead (Thysanophrys arenicola)
Longhead flathead (Papilloculiceps longiceps)