Flathead are notable for their unusual body shape, which their hunting strategy is based upon. Flathead are dorsally compressed, meaning their body is wide but flattened and very low in height. Both eyes are on the top of the flattened head, giving excellent binocular vision to attack overhead prey. The effect is somewhat similar to flounders. In contrast to flounder, however, flathead are much more elongated, the tail remains vertical, and the mouth is large, wide and symmetrical. Flathead use this body structure to hide in sand (their body colour changes to match their background), with only their eyes visible, and explode upwards and outwards to engulf small fish and prawns as they drift over, using a combination of ram and suction feeding thereby improving their chances to catch prey. Learn more about Flathead
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Flathead Species Videos
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Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Bartail Flathead (1 videos) | Platycephalus indicus | Data deficient |
Crocodile Fish (158 videos) | Cymbacephalus beauforti | Not Available |
Crocodile Flathead (39 videos) | Cociella crocodilus | Not Available |
Crocodilefish (84 videos) | Peristedion weberi | Not Available |
Devil Flathead (4 videos) | Onigocia spinosa | Not Available |
Japanese Flathead (3 videos) | Inegocia japonica | Not Available |
Longsnout Flathead (9 videos) | Thysanophrys chiltonae | Not Available |
Sand Flathead (3 videos) | Platycephalus bassensis | Not Available |
Solitas Gruveli (12 videos) | Solitas gruveli | Not Available |
Spiny Flathead (4 videos) | Hoplichthys acanthopleurus | Not Available |
Tentacled Flathead (17 videos) | Papilloculiceps longiceps | Not Available |