Coral Beauty, Centropyge bispinosa (Günther, 1860)
Two-spined Angelfish, Twospine Angelfish
Click to enlarge image
© Erik Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Centropyge
- Species
- bispinosa
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to 10 cm in length.
Introduction
As its standard name implies, the Coral Beauty is one of many beautiful species that occur on coral reefs.
Identification
The Coral Beauty is usually blue-purple on the head and the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. The centre of the body is orange to yellow, with blue lines or spots.
Habitat
The Coral Beauty is most common on outer reef slopes. It is a secretive species that uses crevices in the reef for shelter. This fish occurs singly or in small groups.
It is found in depths from 5 m to 45 m.
Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West and Central Pacific, from East Africa, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Tuamoto Islands.
In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales. It is also known from Lord Howe Island.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Feeding and diet
The species feeds on algae.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
- Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
