flathead

bartail flathead (<em>Platycephalus indicus</em>)The bartail, or Indian, flathead (Platycephalus indicus) inhabits the equatorial waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.

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.

Hoplichthys langsdorfii
Hoplichthys langsdorfiiHoplichthys langsdorfii is a species of ghost flathead (family Hoplichthyidae) native to the waters of the northwest Pacific Ocean.

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).

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.
Citation Information
Article Title: flathead
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 19 February 2021
Access Date: February 23, 2025