Life Cycle
provided by Fishbase
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).
Trophic Strategy
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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).
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Juveniles epipelagic, adults benthopelagic (Ref. 58302).