Genicanthus

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Genicanthus
Genicanthus lamarck.jpg
Blackstriped angelfish
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
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>Genicanthus watanabei</i> Species of fish

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.

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<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>Centropyge heraldi</i> Species of fish

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> 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>Centropyge potteri</i> Species of fish

Centropyge potteri, commonly known as the russet angelfish, Potter's angelfish or Potter's pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the central Pacific Ocean.

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

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.

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

Centropyge fisheri, the orange angelfish, whitetail angelfish, damsel angelfish, yellowtail angelfish, Hawaiian flame angelfish, Fisher’s angelfish, Fisher’s dwarf angelfish or Fisher’s pygmy 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.

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

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<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

The Pitcairn 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 and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). Species of Genicanthus in FishBase . December 2019 version.
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