Animalia Life

Gargariscus prionocephalus
FAMILY
Peristediidae
TAXONOMY
Gargariscus prionocephalus Dumйril, 1869, Sulawesi, Indonesia.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Japanese: Onikihфbф.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Reaches 11 in (28 cm) maximum length. Coloring is orange to red, with black bands on the dorsal and pectoral margins. Its body is entirely encased in spine-bearing plates. There are seven large barbels on the lower jaw and a pair of sculptured rostral projections on the snout.
DISTRIBUTION
Distributed from Japan and the Philippines south to northern Australia.
HABITAT
A deepwater species that typically is taken on the continental shelf. It is collected at depths greater than 657 ft (200 m).
BEHAVIOR
Little is known. They do not appear to be venomous.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
The diet consists primarily of crustaceans. Preyed upon by larger predatory fishes.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Nothing is known about their
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
, but other armored gurnards produce small pelagic eggs.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
This species is rare, so it is not of commercial importance.

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