Pentaceros richardsoni Smith, 1844
Pelagic armourhead
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Pentacerotidae (Armorheads), subfamily: Pentacerotinae
Max. size:  56 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 60 years
Environment:  pelagic-oceanic; marine; depth range 0 - 1000 m
Distribution:  Southeast Atlantic: Tristan de Cunha and South Africa. Western Indian Ocean: South Africa. South Pacific: southern Australia and New Zealand and Cape Horn, Chile. North Pacific records refers to pectoralis (Ref. 4537).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 14-15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10; Anal spines: 4-5; Anal soft rays: 7-8. Head and body bluish above, pale below.
Biology:  Have been trawled on the continental shelf and slope; juveniles recorded from surface waters (Ref. 9563). Depth range reported at 0m-600m in Ref. 5449.
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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