Family PENTACEROTIDAE

Pentacerotidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Pentaceros decacanthus, holotype of Quinquarius hendecacanthus

© Copyright from McCulloch 1915

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Introduction

Eight genera and 13 species of pentacerotids are recognised from the Indo-Pacific and south-western Atlantic, often in temperate areas. All the genera and 10 species have been recorded from Australia.

Pentacerotids are often associated with sea mounts in the deeper parts of the continental shelf and upper continental slope. They are distinctive in having striated bones covering the head. Many species have elongate snouts, particularly as adults. Maximum size reached is 91 cm.

Hardy (1983a) first revised the family, but both Hardy (1983b) and Humphrys et al. (1989) made additional changes.

General References

Hardy, G.S. 1983a. A revision of the fishes of the family Pentacerotidae (Perciformes). New Zealand Journal of Zoology 10: 177-220 figs 1-13

Hardy, G.S. 1983b. A new genus and species of boarfish (Perciformes : Pentacerotidae) from Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 10(4): 373-380 fig. 1

Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. 2006. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [1312]

Humphrys, R.L., Winans, G.A. & Tagami, D.T. 1989. Synonymy and life history of the north Pacific pelagic armorhead, Pseudopentaceros wheeleri Hardy (Pisces: Pentacerotidae). Copeia 1989(1): 142-153 figs 1-3

McCulloch, A.R. 1915. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 3. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 3(3): 97-170 figs 1-3 pls 13-37 [pl. 26 (fig. 1)]

Common Name References

Heemstra, P.C. 2001. Pentacerotidae. pp. 3288-3289 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 5 2791-3379 pp. [3288] (Armourheads)

Last, P.R., Scott, E.O.G. & Talbot, F.H. 1983. Fishes of Tasmania. Hobart : Tasmanian Fisheries Development Authority 563 pp. figs. [383] (Boarfishes)

History of changes