Teleostei (teleosts) >
Perciformes/Notothenioidei (Icefishes) >
Bovichtidae (Thornfishes)
Etymology: Halaphritis: Greek, als = salt + Greek, aphritis, -idos = anchovy (Ref. 45335); platycephala: Named for its flat head.
More on authors: Last, Balushkin & Hutchins.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; demersal; depth range 5 - 13 m (Ref. 43123). Temperate
Eastern Indian Ocean: Tasmania, Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.8 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43123)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Lives deep inside caves or under ledges in semi-exposed habitats in the near shore where light levels are low. Adapted to creeping around the bottom in cramped confines. In captivity, it crawls over the substrate rather than swim. Feeds on shrimps and other small crustaceans in captivity (Ref. 43123).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Last, P.R., A.V. Balushkin and J.B. Hutchins, 2002. Halaphritis platycephala (Notothenioidei: Bovichtidae): a new genus and species of temperate icefish from southeastern Australia. Copeia 2002(2):433-440. (Ref. 43123)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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