Genicanthus

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Genicanthus
Genicanthus lamarck.jpg
Blackstriped angelfish
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Genicanthus
Swainson, 1839 [1]
Type species
Holacanthus lamarck
Lacepède, 1802 [1]
Species

See text.

Genicanthus is a genus of marine angelfishes in the family Pomacanthidae. Known commonly as swallowtail or lyretail angelfish, these fishes are so-named for the distinctive shape of their tailfins. This genus of angels, in comparison to the other species found in hobby aquaria, are a good choice for beginners as they do not get nearly as large as some of the others. Another unique attribute is that swallowtail angels will tolerate each other and can be kept in pairs or as a single male with a harem, though it is typically best to add them to a tank at the same time. If added on by one, the angel which is added first may become aggressively territorial towards any new additions. Unlike others in the family Pomocanthidae, the angelfish species in the genus Genicanthus are generally considered to be reef safe. [2] Also unlike most other members of the Pomacanthidae, those in Genicanthus are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females are easily distinguishable. Fish in this species possess a small mouth relative to its size. This small mouth is well adapted for feeding on plankton in the water column. As planktivores, members of Genicanthus generally will not nip corals and sessile invertebrates.

The name of this genus means “thorn cheek”, a reference to the spines on the rear margin of the operculum, a feature common to all angelfish. [3]


Species

The following species are classified under the genus Genicanthus: [4]

ImageScientific nameCommon nameDistribution
Genicanthus bellus.jpg Genicanthus bellus Randall, 1975. Ornate angelfish,western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean
Genicanthus caudovittatus male.jpg Genicanthus caudovittatus (Günther, 1860). Zebra angelfish,waters of Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius and Réunion, and is also known in Weh Island
TatejimaYK.jpg Genicanthus lamarck (Lacépède, 1802). Blackstriped angelfish, Lamarck's angelfish,tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific
Pomacanthidae - Genicanthus melanospilos.JPG Genicanthus melanospilos (Bleeker, 1857). Spotbreast angelfish,Indo-Malayan region to the southwestern Pacific Ocean and from the Ryukyu Islands to New Caledonia and Fiji.
Genicanthus personatus NOAA.jpg Genicanthus personatus Randall, 1975. Masked angelfish,the Hawaiian Islands
Genicanthus semicinctus.jpg Genicanthus semicinctus (Waite, 1900). Halfbanded angelfish,from Lord Howe Island (Australia) and the Kermadec Islands (New Zealand) in the south-western Pacific Ocean
Genicanthus semifasciatus.jpg Genicanthus semifasciatus (Kamohara, 1934). Japanese swallow,Western Pacific
Genicanthus spinus Randall, 1975. Pitcairn angelfish,Eastern Pacific: Cook Islands to Ducie Atoll
Genicanthus takeuchii Pyle, 1997. Spotted angelfish,Northwest Pacific: Marcus Island and the Ogasawara Islands
Female Genicanthus watanabei.jpg Genicanthus watanabei (Yasuda & Tominaga, 1970). Blackedged angelfish,West-central Pacific: Taiwan to the Tuamotu Islands, north to Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands; Marianas and Marshalls in Micronesia.

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<i>Centropyge eibli</i> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded angelfish</span> Species of fish

The banded angelfish, also known as the bandit angelfish and three spine angelfish, is a distinctive species ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is endemic to deeper reefs in Hawaii and the Johnston Atoll.

<i>Genicanthus bellus</i> Species of fish

Genicanthus bellus, the ornate angelfish, bellus angelfish or bellus lyretail 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.

<i>Genicanthus semifasciatus</i> Species of fish

Genicanthus semifasciatus, the Japanese swallow, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish, belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Western Pacific.

<i>Pomacanthus maculosus</i> Species of fish

Pomacanthus maculosus, the yellowbar angelfish, half-moon angelfish, yellow-marked angelfish, yellowband angelfish or yellow-blotched angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean and, more recently, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

<i>Centropyge tibicen</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Genicanthus lamarck</i> Species of fish

Genicanthus lamarck, the blackstriped angelfish or Lamarck's angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden angelfish</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cocos-Keeling angelfish</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Centropyge shepardi</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis</i> Species of fish

Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis, the blue-striped angelfish and bluelined 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.

<i>Genicanthus melanospilos</i> Species of fish

Genicanthus melanospilos, the spotbreast angelfish, blackspot angelfish or swallowtail angelfish, the family Pomacanthidae. It occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region.

<i>Genicanthus caudovittatus</i> Species of fish

Genicanthus caudovittatus, the zebra angelfish, swallowtail angelfish, and lyretail angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indian Ocean.

Genicanthus takeuchii, the spotted angelfish or Takeuchi’s angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halfbanded angelfish</span> Species of fish

The halfbanded angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Pomacanthidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  2. ↑ Reefkeeping.com
  3. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (21 July 2020). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 1): Families LOBOTIDAE, POMACANTHIDAE, DREPANEIDAE and CHAETODONTIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  4. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Genicanthus". FishBase . December 2019 version.
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