Pentaceropsis recurvirostris

Pentaceropsis recurvirostris
Pentaceropsis recurvirostris
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Pentacerotidae
Genus:	Pentaceropsis Steindachner, 1883
Species:	P. recurvirostris
Binomial name
Pentaceropsis recurvirostris (J. Richardson, 1845)
Synonyms
For genus: Prosoplismus Waite, 1903 For species: Histiopterus recurvirostris J. Richardson, 1845

Pentaceropsis recurvirostris, the longsnout boarfish, is a species of armorhead endemic to the temperate waters of the southern coast of Australia including around the island of Tasmania. It is found over the continental shelf at depths from 3 to 260 m (9.8 to 853.0 ft), though usually at less than 40 m (130 ft). It is carnivorous and its diet consists mostly of polychaete worms, brittle stars, and brown algae. It is trawled throughout its range, though is not a commercially important species and catch rates are low.^[1] It is the only known member of its genus.^[2]

Morphology

The longsnout boarfish grows to a maximum length of 70 cm (28 in). It has a large, spiky dorsal fin with 10-11 spines and a slightly forked tail. Its snout is almost tubular with a small mouth. The fish is white in colour with two dark angled bands on both sides and another band running from the snout tip to dorsal fin.

References