Flatheads
Flatheads are the members of the Platycephalidae family. They are found in the Indo-Pacific oceans. They have elongated body, depressed head, upward directed eye and large mouth with lower jaw longer than upper jaw. Their pelvic fins are behind pectoral base and first dorsal spine short, isolated or scarcely connected to second spine.
Flatheads are benthic fishes frequently found burying in the bottom, on mud or sand of the continental shelf from 10 to 300 meters depth. However, most of them are found at less than 100 meters. They are primarily ambush predators that feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes.
There are 18 genera and about 74 species worldwide. Malaysia has about 20 species.
Flatheads are benthic fishes frequently found burying in the bottom, on mud or sand of the continental shelf from 10 to 300 meters depth. However, most of them are found at less than 100 meters. They are primarily ambush predators that feed mainly on crustaceans and small fishes.
There are 18 genera and about 74 species worldwide. Malaysia has about 20 species.
Scientific Name: Cociella crocodilus (Cuvier, 1829)
English Name: Crocodile Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾 (Niúwěi), 正颚鲬 (Zhèng è yǒng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji, Baji Buaya
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาหัวแบนด่าง (Plā h̄ạw bæn d̀āng), ปลาหางควาย (Plā h̄āng khwāy)
Main Identification Features: Brownish with small dark spots on upper body. Usually with 4-5 dark brown bands crosses back. Spiny dorsal with broad black band near edge and small black spots below. Other fins darkly spotted.
Size: Maximum total length 45 cm, commonly to 40 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sand or mud bottoms near shore, to 100 m depth. Feeds on fishes, shrimps, and benthic organisms.
Scientific Name: Cymbacephalus nematophthalmus (Günther, 1860)
English Name: Fringe-eyed Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾 (Niúwěi), 线眼乳突鯒 (Xiàn yǎn rǔ tú yǒng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji, Kumba Buaya
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาหางควาย (Plā h̄āng khwāy)
Main Identification Features: A prominent pit located behind upper rear edge of eye. 6 to 9 skin tentacles above eye. Short dark streaks usually crossing rays in dorsal and caudal fins.
Size: Maximum total length about 58 cm, commonly to 30 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Rocky coastal areas, to 20 m depth, commonly to 5 m depth. Feeds on fishes, shrimps, and benthic organisms.
Scientific Name: Platycephalus endrachtensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
English Name: Flagtail Flathead, Bar-tailed Flathead, Northern Sand Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾鱼 (Niú wěi yú), 斑尾鯒 (Bān wěi yǒng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji
Main Identification Features: Head and body pale brown, with dark blotches or mottling dorsally depending on habitat. Caudal fin with 4 or more dark longitudinal bands, without yellow blotch when fresh.
Size: Maximum total length 45 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Estuarine and coastal waters, usually sandy bottoms, from 1 to 60 m depth.
Scientific Name: Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
English Name: Bartail Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾 (Niúwěi), 印度牛尾鱼 (Yìndù niúwěi yú), 印度鯒 (Yìndù yǒng)
Japanese Name | 和名: コチ (Kochi), ヨシノゴチ (Yoshino gochi)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji, Baji Ekor Jalur
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาหางควายหางแถบ (Plā h̄āng khwāy h̄āng t̄hæb)
Main Identification Features: Body brownish or grayish above and whitish below. Caudal fin with prominent yellow blotch with 2 to 3 black stripes. First dorsal fin with an anterior isolated small spine.
Size: Maximum total length 50 cm, commonly to 35 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters and estuaries, to 30 m depth. An ambush predator that feeds on fishes, shrimps, and benthic organisms.
English Name: Crocodile Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾 (Niúwěi), 正颚鲬 (Zhèng è yǒng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji, Baji Buaya
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาหัวแบนด่าง (Plā h̄ạw bæn d̀āng), ปลาหางควาย (Plā h̄āng khwāy)
Main Identification Features: Brownish with small dark spots on upper body. Usually with 4-5 dark brown bands crosses back. Spiny dorsal with broad black band near edge and small black spots below. Other fins darkly spotted.
Size: Maximum total length 45 cm, commonly to 40 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sand or mud bottoms near shore, to 100 m depth. Feeds on fishes, shrimps, and benthic organisms.
Scientific Name: Cymbacephalus nematophthalmus (Günther, 1860)
English Name: Fringe-eyed Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾 (Niúwěi), 线眼乳突鯒 (Xiàn yǎn rǔ tú yǒng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji, Kumba Buaya
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาหางควาย (Plā h̄āng khwāy)
Main Identification Features: A prominent pit located behind upper rear edge of eye. 6 to 9 skin tentacles above eye. Short dark streaks usually crossing rays in dorsal and caudal fins.
Size: Maximum total length about 58 cm, commonly to 30 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Rocky coastal areas, to 20 m depth, commonly to 5 m depth. Feeds on fishes, shrimps, and benthic organisms.
Scientific Name: Platycephalus endrachtensis Quoy & Gaimard, 1825
English Name: Flagtail Flathead, Bar-tailed Flathead, Northern Sand Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾鱼 (Niú wěi yú), 斑尾鯒 (Bān wěi yǒng)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji
Main Identification Features: Head and body pale brown, with dark blotches or mottling dorsally depending on habitat. Caudal fin with 4 or more dark longitudinal bands, without yellow blotch when fresh.
Size: Maximum total length 45 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Estuarine and coastal waters, usually sandy bottoms, from 1 to 60 m depth.
Scientific Name: Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758)
English Name: Bartail Flathead
Chinese Name | 鱼类中文名: 牛尾 (Niúwěi), 印度牛尾鱼 (Yìndù niúwěi yú), 印度鯒 (Yìndù yǒng)
Japanese Name | 和名: コチ (Kochi), ヨシノゴチ (Yoshino gochi)
Malay Name | Nama Melayu Malaysia: Ikan Bebaji, Baji-baji, Baji Ekor Jalur
Thai Name | ชื่อสามัญภาษาไทย: ปลาหางควายหางแถบ (Plā h̄āng khwāy h̄āng t̄hæb)
Main Identification Features: Body brownish or grayish above and whitish below. Caudal fin with prominent yellow blotch with 2 to 3 black stripes. First dorsal fin with an anterior isolated small spine.
Size: Maximum total length 50 cm, commonly to 35 cm.
Habitat and Ecology: Sandy and muddy bottoms of coastal waters and estuaries, to 30 m depth. An ambush predator that feeds on fishes, shrimps, and benthic organisms.
