General Description
Body slender, head flattened with two strong spines at the corner of the gill cover, the lower much longer than the upper. Sand-brown with 2-3 indistinct bands and peppered with small light to dark spots above, pale below; tail with brown blotches on the upper part and a large dark blotch broken with white fin rays on the lower part. To 55 cm.
Biology
These flatheads are fished commercially, and very popular with recreational anglers. Their fin spines are venomous.
Distribution
Southern Australia.
Habitat
Sandy, muddy or shelly bottoms in shallow coastal bays and along the coast, in depths of 0-100 m.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Slender fish with flattened head, and a tail fin with a large black patch on the lower half, sometimes split by rays, and a white posterior edge.
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Maximum Size
55 cm
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Habitats
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Diet
Carnivore
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Hazards
Venomous spines can inflict mild to severe pain.
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Endemicity
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Commercial
Yes
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Conservation Statuses
DSE Advisory List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Depths
Shore (0-1 m), Shallow (1-30 m), Deep ( > 30 m)
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Water Column Locations
On or near seafloor
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Taxon Name
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Scientific Author
Cuvier, 1829
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Common Name
Southern Sand Flathead
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Superclass
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
bassensis
