| Cherubfish | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Centropyge |
| Species: | C. argi |
| Binomial name | |
| Centropyge argi | |
The cherubfish (Centropyge argi), also known as the pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The cherubfish has an oval, deep and laterally compressed body with a short, blunt snout and a small mouth. There is a long, robust spine at the angle of the preoperculum, which has its vertical edge being serrated. [2] The body is deep blue in colour with the head and chest being orange-yellow with a thin blue eye ring and a small dark blue botch to the rear of the mouth. The pectoral fins are pale yellowish while the other fins are dark blue with light blue margins. The dorsal fin contains 14-15 spines and 15-16 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 8 centimetres (3.1 in). [3]
The cherubfish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It occurs off Bermuda, [1] and from North Carolina [2] through the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean coast of South America, [1] as far east as French Guiana. [3]
The cherubfish occurs at depths between 5 and 18 metres (16 and 59 ft), typically below 30 metres (98 ft). Its usual habitat is coral rubble where it feeds on algae and small benthic invertebrates. [1] It retreats into cavities when alarmed. [3] It lives in small groups of around 10 fish, usually a single male and a few females and juveniles. [4]
The cherubfish was first formally described in 1951 by Loren Paul Woods and Robert H. Kanazawa with the type locality given as the Argus Bank near Bermuda. [5] In some classifications it is placed in the subgenus Xiphipops.The specific name refers to the type locality. [6]
The cherubfish is one of the most popular species of marine angelfish in aquaria. [1]
The lemonpeel angelfish, also known as the yellow angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
The twospined angelfish, also known as the dusky angelfish, or coral beauty, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. They are found in the Indo-Pacific.
The flameback angelfish, also known as the flameback pygmy angelfish, Brazilian flameback angelfish, Caribbean flameback angelfish or fireball angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
The Japanese angelfish or Japanese pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
The French angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It occurs in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
The resplendent pygmy angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish, belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is endemic to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Centropyge eibli, the blacktail angelfish, red stripe angelfish, orangelined angelfish, or Eibl dwarf angel is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found near reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
Centropyge heraldi, the yellow angelfish or Herald's angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It comes from the Pacific Ocean and sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Centropyge tibicen, the keyhole angelfish, black angelfish, whitespot angelfish or puller angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Centropyge multicolor, the multicolor angelfish or pearlback angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is from the Pacific Ocean that sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 9 cm in length.
Centropyge ferrugata, the rusty angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. The rusty angelfish comes from the Western Pacific Ocean and sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Centropyge venusta, the purplemask angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae, It is found in the Western Pacific and is occasionally found the aquarium trade.
Centropyge multispinis, known by the common names bluefin dwarf, brown pygmy angelfish, dusky angelfish, dusky cherub, many-spined angelfish, and multispined angelfish, is a species of marine ray finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific area.
Centropyge vrolikii, known commonly as the pearlscale angelfish or half black angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific.
Centropyge abei is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a small marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.
Golden angelfish, also known as golden pygmy angelfish or velvet dwarf angel, is a small marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It inhabits shallow reefs in the western Pacific Ocean.
The Cocos-Keeling angelfish, or Colin's angelfish is a small species of ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Centropyge nox, known commonly as the midnight angelfish or dusky angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Centropyge shepardi, the mango angelfish, Shepard’s angelfish or Shepard’s pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.
Centropyge flavipectoralis, known commonly as the yellowfin angelfish or moonbeam angelfish, is a marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is native to the Indian Ocean.
