Boarfish

Observations based on the lack of occurrence of individuals older than 3 years in the seamounts may suggest that P. wheeleri may spawn in only one or two seasons and die afterwards (Ref. 57888).

Possess an unusual life history that includes an extended epipelagic subadult phase and a benthic adult period. The benthic population resides and spawns on the southern Emperor and northern Hawaiian Ridge seamounts in the central North Pacific Ocean. Young armorhead are either transported or undergo an active migration from the seamounts to the epipelagic waters of the subarctic and transitional Northeast Pacific and Gulf of Alaska where they reside for the next 1.5 to 2.5 years acquiring enormous fat reserves. After attaining a size of 26-33 cm fork length, armorhead return to the seamounts where they quickly assume benthic habits and begin maturation (Ref. 42124).

Juveniles epipelagic, adults benthopelagic (Ref. 58302).

fisheries: commercial

Pentaceros wheeleri, the slender armorheard, is a species of ray-finned fish within the family Pentacerotidae. Observations based on the lack of individuals over 3 years of age in seamounts has suggested that P. wheeleri may only spawn in 1 to 2 seasons only to then die afterwards.