Family |
   Pentacerotidae |
Description |
   Armorheads |
Environment |
   Marine |
Etymology |
   Greek, pente = five + Greek, keras, -atos = horn |
Genus |
   7 |
No. of Species |
   13 |
Order |
   Perciformes |
Class |
   Actinopterygii |
Reproductive Guild |
   Nonguarders |
Distribution |
   Indo-Pacific and southwestern Atlantic. Body moderately deep (Pentaceropsis) to very deep (Pentaceros); strongly compressed. Head bones exposed, rough and striated. Supramaxilla lacking. Dorsal fin having 4-14 strong spines; 9-29 soft rays. With 2-5 strong spines in anal fin; soft rays 7-13. Large pelvic fins. One long and strong spine in pelvic fin; soft rays 5. Scales small. Primary on deep slopes, seamounts, and pelagic; shallow primarily in temperate areas. Foodfishes. Assumed to be nonguarders (RF). |