Common Name: Marbled Flathead

Distribution: Common in the Solitary Islands Marine Park. Endemic to southern Australia, recorded from the Sunshine Coast in southern Queensland, south to around Eden in New South Wales.

Ecological Notes: Frequents rocky reef and rubble substrates, from coastal bays to deep offshore reefs. Depth to 80 m, juveniles shallower over sandy bottoms.

Additional Notes: Sandy coloured with distinctive marbled pattern on dorsal surface and upper sides, belly pale, lower sides pale with numerous dark blotches, and a dark blotch on lower half of tail. Eye large, with large circular ocular flap. Ambush predator, relies on camouflage to prey on small fishes and crustaceans. Grows to 45 cm.

References: Kuiter, R. H., Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Published by Crawford House Press Pty. Ltd., 1993. p.104.

Atlas of Living Australia at https://bie.ala.org.au/search?q=platycephalus+marmoratus. Accessed 25/02/2019.