Pelagic armorhead
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pelagic armorhead | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
.gif/180px-Pseudopentaceros_richardsoni_(Pelagic_armorhead).gif) Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
|
||||||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Pseudopentaceros richardsoni (Smith, 1844) |
The pelagic armorhead, pelagic armourhead, Richardson's boarfish, or southern boarfish, Pseudopentaceros richardsoni, is an armorhead of the genus Pseudopentaceros, found in the north and south Pacific Ocean, South Africa, South America, and the South Island of New Zealand, from the surface to depths of 300 metres on the continental shelf. Its length is between 30 and 50 cm.
As a consequence of its pelagic habit the pelagic armorhead has lower fins and is more elongate than the other boarfish, retaining however the bony head armour and strong fin spines.
Colour is a dark steely grey above and silver on the flanks and belly, another clue to its pelagic environment.
The pelagic armorhead feed in midwater on lantern fishes, prawns, and salps, and rises to near the surface at night in pursuit of its prey.
[edit] References
- Pseudopentaceros richardsoni (TSN 169700). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on 18 April 2006.
- "Pseudopentaceros richardsoni". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. January 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
