Three-spot Angelfish, Apolemichthys trimaculatus (Cuvier, 1831)

Scientific name: Apolemichthys trimaculatus
  • Updated
    07/04/22
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Three-Spot Angelfish Click to enlarge image
A Three-Spot Angelfish at a depth of 16 m, Mantis Reef, Wreck Bay, far northern Great Barrier Reef, November 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Apolemichthys
    Species
    trimaculatus
    Family
    Pomacanthidae
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 25 cm in length.

Introduction

Three-spot Angelfish have a yellow body and blue lips. There is a black spot on the forehead and another faint one behind the gill cover. The anal fin has a wide black margin. Juvenile Three-spot Angelfish are similar to adults, but lack the spots around the head. They have a narrow black band through eye and a series of golden bars on the side.

Identification

Three-spot Angelfish have a yellow body and blue lips. There is a black spot on the forehead and another faint one behind the gill cover. The anal fin has a wide black margin.

Juvenile Three-spot Angelfish are similar to adults, but lack the spots around the head. They have a narrow black band through eye and a series of golden bars on the side.

Habitat

Three-spot Angelfish are usually seen on reef slopes and dropoffs. They are sometimes found in lagoons and on shallower reefs.

The species is usually seen in pairs or as solitary individuals. Juveniles are secretive, using reef crevices for shelter.

Adults are found in depths from 3 m to 60 m. Juveniles are usually seen at depths below 25 m.

Distribution

The species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa, throughout South-east Asia and Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to Samoa.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia and the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

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.

Ozcam map of Three-spot Angelfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

Feeding and diet

The Three-spot Angelfish feeds on algae, sea squirts and salps.

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.