flathead the usual English name for fish in the family Platycephalidae, a name which itself means ‘flat-headed ones’. These are bottom-dwelling fish with flat, wedge-shaped heads and large pectoral fins which help them to move about on the seabed. Their backs are usually brownish, but they can change colour to match their surroundings. They spend most of their time half-buried in the sand, and are thus particularly liable to be taken by trawls. Some are quite small, but others can reach weights of 3 to 5 kg (7 to 12 lb) or more.
