Home · Platycephalidae · Olive-tailed flathead
Olive-tailed flathead (Rogadius asper) — Platycephalidae

Olive-tailed flathead

Rogadius asper
LC · Least Concern

The Olive-tailed flathead (Rogadius asper) is a saltwater fish of the family Platycephalidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
17 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
15.0–95.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The olive-tailed flathead is a flathead from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 17 cm and has the strongly flattened head characteristic of flatheads, with high-set eyes, and a broad body tapering to the rear with rough scales and spines on the head. As a bottom-dweller it lies buried on sandy and muddy bottoms and ambushes small fish and crustaceans. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Olive-tailed flathead?

The Olive-tailed flathead has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Olive-tailed flathead live?

The Olive-tailed flathead lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Olive-tailed flathead get?

The Olive-tailed flathead grows to a maximum of about 17 cm.

Is the Olive-tailed flathead dangerous to humans?

No, the Olive-tailed flathead is harmless to humans.

Is the Olive-tailed flathead edible?

The Olive-tailed flathead is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Ruwe platkop verified
English name
Olive-tailed flathead verified
Scientific name
Rogadius asper
Family
Platycephalidae
Other names
Olive-tail flathead; Olive-tailed flathead; Thorny flathead verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
17.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Straight inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
15.0 verified
Max depth (m)
95.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Nocturnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Rogadius

More from the family Platycephalidae

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