flathead

flathead, any of the flattened marine fishes of the families Platycephalidae, Bembridae, and Hoplichthyidae (order Scorpaeniformes), found in the Indo-Pacific and in tropical regions of the eastern Atlantic. Flatheads are elongated, large-mouthed fish with tapered bodies, two dorsal fins, and rough scales.

As their name indicates, the head, which is large and covered with ridges and spines, and the forward part of the body are flattened from top to bottom. The fish are carnivorous and generally live on the ocean bottom, buried beneath the surface. They are commercially valuable food fish and reach a maximum of about 1.3 metres (50 inches) and 15 kg (33 pounds).