Belalang

Gargariscus prionocephalus

FAMILY

Peristediidae

TAXONOMY

Gargariscus prionocephalus Duméril, 1869, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

Japanese: Onikihôbô.

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.