Skip links and keyboard navigation

Species profile—Apolemichthys trimaculatus (threespot angelfish)

Classification

Animalia (animals) → Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) → Pomacanthidae (anglefishes) → Apolemichthys trimaculatus (threespot angelfish)

Sighting data

Download
KML | CSV | GeoJson

Species details

Kingdom
Animalia (animals)
Class
Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Family
Pomacanthidae (anglefishes)
Scientific name
Apolemichthys trimaculatus (Cuvier, 1831)
Common name
threespot angelfish
WildNet taxon ID
32120
Conservation significant
No
Wetland status
Wetland Dependant Species
Endemicity
Native
Pest status
Nil
Description
Threespot angelfish are bright yellow with blue lips. There is a wide black band on the anal fin and a wide white band above it. It has a short, deep and narrow body with a black spot on the forehead and a fainter spot behind the gill cover. Juveniles have a false eye-spot at the base of the dorsal fin and a narrow black band through the eye. This species grows to 25cm in length.
Distribution
Threespot angelfish are found from Ashmore & Cartier Islands, Ningaloo Reef, Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef, Western Australia and the Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea. In Queensland, this species can be found from Escape Reef to Channel Reef in the northern areas of the Great Barrier Reef. Extralimitally the distribution extends throughout the Indo-West Pacific.
Distributional limits
0, 0
0, 0
Species environment
Marine
Habitat
Adults are found at moderate depths from 3-60m near coral in reefs and lagoons. Juveniles are more elusive and can be found below 25m.
Behaviour
The threespot angelfish are usually seen in pairs or as solitary individuals.
Diet
The species diet consists mainly of algae, sponges and tunicates (sea squirts).
Notes
Contributors: Danielle Hansen 24/07/2008; Wayne Martin 09/11/2008
References
Froese, R. & Pauly, D. (eds). (2008). FishBase, version (09/2008). World Wide Web electronic publication, Accessed 09/11/2008 .
Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. (2006). Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia, Volume 35.2. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood. p. 1303.
Kuiter, R.H. & Tonozuka, T. (2001). Pictorial Guide to Indonesian Reef Fishes. Part 2. Fusiliers - Dragonets, Caesionidae - Callionymidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 304-622 p.
Lieske, E. & Myers, R. (1994). Collins Pocket Guide. Coral Reef Fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean Including the Red Sea. Harper Collins Publishers, , Sydney. 400 pp.
Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (1986). Pomacanthidae. Pp. 623-626. In M.M. Smith & P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' Sea Fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Profile author
Danielle Hansen (09/11/2008)

Other resources

Data source

This profile data is sourced from the QLD Wildlife Data API using the Get species by ID function used under CC-By 4.0.
https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species/?op=getspeciesbyid&taxonid=32120.

This information is sourced from the WildNet database managed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.

More species information

Get a list of species for your area or find other wildlife information.

Licence
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Last updated
20 May 2024