Pitcairn angelfish

Last updated

Pitcairn angelfish
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Genicanthus
Species:
G. spinus
Binomial name
Genicanthus spinus
Randall, 1975

The Pitcairn angelfish (Genicanthus spinus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. [2]

Contents

Description

The Pitcairn angelfish like the other angelfishes in the genus Genicanthus , shows sexual dichromatism, the males and females show differences in colour and pattern. The males have a white body which is marked with many vertical black stripes while the females have an overall bluish white colouration. In both sexes the forked tail narrows at its base to create a “swallow tail”. [3] The dorsal fin contains 15 spines and 17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 18-19 soft rays. [4] This species attains a maximum total length of 35 centimetres (14 in). [2]

Distribution

Genicanthus spinus is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It has been recorded from the islands of Raivavae and Rurutu in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia Dulcie Atoll in the UK Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. [1]

Habitat and biology

Genicanthus spinus Is found on rock and coral reefs at depths between 30 and 60 metres (98 and 197 ft) (at least). it is normally encountered in groups that swim high in the water column, these are harems of 1 male and as many as 4 females. They feed mostly on zooplankton but may eat some benthic invertebrates. [2]

Systematics

Genicanthus spinus was first formally described in 1975 by the American ichthyologists John E. Randall (1924–2020) with the type locality given as Bounty Bay on Pitcairn Island. [5] The specific name spinus means “spine” and refers to the very large anterior spine in front of the eye. [6]

Related Research Articles

Lemonpeel angelfish

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.

Japanese angelfish

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.

Genicanthus watanabei, the blackedged angelfish or Watanabe’s angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Pacific Ocean.

<i>Centropyge eibli</i>

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.

<i>Genicanthus bellus</i>

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>

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>Chaetodontoplus duboulayi</i>

Chaetodontoplus duboulayi, the scribbled angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. This species is from the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

<i>Centropyge heraldi</i>

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 that sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Centropyge tibicen</i>

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.

<i>Genicanthus lamarck</i>

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.

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

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.

<i>Centropyge vrolikii</i>

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.

Cocos-Keeling angelfish

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>Genicanthus personatus</i>

Genicanthus personatus the masked angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is endemic to Hawaii.

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.

<i>Genicanthus melanospilos</i>

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>

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 occurs 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

Halfbanded angelfish

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 Pyle, R. & Myers, R. (2010). "Genicanthus spinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T165846A6147400. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165846A6147400.en . Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Genicanthus spinus" in FishBase . December 2019 version.
  3. "Genicanthus spinus". Saltcorner!. Bob Goemans. 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  4. John E. Randall (1975). "A Revision of the Indo-Pacific Angelfish Genus Genicanthus, with Descriptions of Three New Species". Bulletin of Marine Science. 25 (3): 393–421.
  5. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Genicanthus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  6. 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 19 February 2021.