Home · Pentacerotidae · Pelagic armorhead
Pelagic armorhead (Pentaceros richardsoni) — Pentacerotidae

Pelagic armorhead

Pentaceros richardsoni
Family: Pentacerotidae

The Pelagic armorhead (Pentaceros richardsoni) is a saltwater fish of the family Pentacerotidae that grows up to 56 cm.

Length
56 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–1000.0 m
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Argentina, Australia, Chile, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and others
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Want the complete picture on the Pelagic armorhead?

Get the app

Description

The pelagic armorhead is an armorhead (Pentacerotidae) from deeper water around seamounts and slopes of southern Australia and the southern oceans. The species grows to about 40 cm and has a deep, sturdy body with a head conspicuously armoured with exposed bone. As a bottom-oriented fish around seamounts it snaps at crustaceans, small plankton and small fish. It is commercially fished. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pelagic armorhead?

The Pelagic armorhead has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Pelagic armorhead live?

The Pelagic armorhead lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Argentina, Australia, Chile, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and others

How big does the Pelagic armorhead get?

The Pelagic armorhead grows to a maximum of about 56 cm.

Is the Pelagic armorhead dangerous to humans?

No, the Pelagic armorhead is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Pelagic armorhead edible?

Yes, the Pelagic armorhead is commonly eaten.

More photos

Pelagic armorhead (Pentaceros richardsoni) — Pentacerotidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) peterlanglands, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pelagic armorhead (Pentaceros richardsoni) — Pentacerotidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Ken Graham, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Pelagic armorhead (Pentaceros richardsoni) — Pentacerotidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Smith, Andrew, Sir, 1797-1872; Macleay, William Sharp, 1792-1865; Great Britain. Treasury; Cape of Good Hope Association for Exploring Central Africa; Day & Haghe, lithographer (Public domain)
Pelagic armorhead (Pentaceros richardsoni) — Pentacerotidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) ian_merrington, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pelagic armorhead?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Pelagic armorhead is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Pelagic armorhead sourced
Scientific name
Pentaceros richardsoni
Family
Pentacerotidae
Other names
Pelagic armorhead; Pelagic armourhead; Nelson's boarfish; Richardson's boarfish; Southern boarfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
56.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
1000.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Argentina, Australia, Chile, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
levensduur_max_jaar
60.0 verified
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pentaceros

Japanese armorhead (Pentaceros japonicus) — Pentacerotidae
Japanese armorhead
Pentaceros japonicus
Pentacerotidae
 Cape armorhead (Pentaceros capensis) — Pentacerotidae
Cape armorhead
Pentaceros capensis
Pentacerotidae
 Bigspine armorhead (Pentaceros decacanthus) — Pentacerotidae
Bigspine armorhead
Pentaceros decacanthus
Pentacerotidae
 Bigspine boarfish (Pentaceros quinquespinis) — Pentacerotidae
Bigspine boarfish
Pentaceros quinquespinis
Pentacerotidae

More from the family Pentacerotidae

Brown-spotted boarfish (Paristiopterus gallipavo) — Pentacerotidae
Brown-spotted boarfish
Paristiopterus gallipavo
Pentacerotidae
 Japanese boarfish (Evistias acutirostris) — Pentacerotidae
Japanese boarfish
Evistias acutirostris
Pentacerotidae
 Hutchin's boarfish (Parazanclistius hutchinsi) — Pentacerotidae
Hutchin's boarfish
Parazanclistius hutchinsi
Pentacerotidae
 Japanese armorhead (Pentaceros japonicus) — Pentacerotidae
Japanese armorhead
Pentaceros japonicus
Pentacerotidae
 Cape armorhead (Pentaceros capensis) — Pentacerotidae
Cape armorhead
Pentaceros capensis
Pentacerotidae
 Boarfish (Pentaceropsis recurvirostris) — Pentacerotidae
Boarfish (Pentaceropsis recurvirostris)
Pentacerotidae
 Blackspot boarfish (Zanclistius elevatus) — Pentacerotidae
Blackspot boarfish
Zanclistius elevatus
Pentacerotidae
 Boarfish (Paristiopterus labiosus) — Pentacerotidae
Boarfish (Paristiopterus labiosus)
Pentacerotidae
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Pelagic armorhead?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Pelagic armorhead is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Pelagic armorhead? Get the app