Species profile—Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus (conspicuous angelfish)
Classification
Animalia (animals) → Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) → Pomacanthidae (anglefishes) → Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus (conspicuous angelfish)
Sighting data
Species details
- Kingdom
- Animalia (animals)
- Class
- Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
- Family
- Pomacanthidae (anglefishes)
- Scientific name
- Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus (Waite, 1900)
- Common name
- conspicuous angelfish
- WildNet taxon ID
- 32131
- Conservation significant
- No
- Wetland status
- Wetland Dependant Species
- Endemicity
- Native
- Pest status
- Nil
- Description
- Adults are blue-grey on the upper parts grading to a dusky colour below. The face is yellow with blue on the operculum (gill cover) and around the eye. The dorsal and anal fins are dark at the base and pale along the outermost margins. The tail and pectoral fins (behind the gills) have a yellow base. Juveniles are black with a greenish-white dorsal fin. This species has a large spine projecting horizontally from the corner of the preoperculum (between the cheek and gill). Conspicuous angelfish grow to 25cm in length.
- Distribution
- The conspicuous angelfish is recorded in the tropical marine waters of the south-west Pacific. In Australia they occur from the southern Great Barrier Reef to the central New South Wales coast. They are also known from the territories of New Caledonia, Coral Sea, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands.
- Distributional limits
- 0, 0
0, 0 - Species environment
- Marine
- Habitat
- This species is found on coral and rocky reefs, to a depth of 40m. Juveniles live in shallower water in protected harbours and bays.
- Behaviour
- Male angelfish defend their territory by driving away other male competitors. This is performed in order to maintain access to a mate. Like many angelfish species, the conspicuous angelfish probably shelters in caves or coral crevices.
- Reproduction
- For many species of angelfish, spawning (mating) occurs at dusk. Usually a single pair, although sometimes a small group, will congregate off the ocean bottom. When a female arrives nearby, the male performs a courtship display. This involves erecting his fins and swimming rapidly back and forth. Then the male and female swim spiralling toward the surface, where they simultaneously shed eggs and sperm, before returning to the ocean bottom. The eggs are less than 1mm in diameter and hatch 15-20 hours later.
- Notes
- Contributors: Mellisa Mayhew 16/10/2008; Wayne Martin 09/11/2008
- References
- Egerton, L. (ed.) (2005). Encyclopedia of Australian Wildlife, (Revised Edition). Readers Digest Pty Ltd, Sydney.
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, p. 1306. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood.
McGrouther, M. (2004). Find a Fish: Conspicuous Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus conspicillatus (Waite, 1900). Australian Museum, Sydney, accessed 16/10/2008, [http://www.austmus.gov.au/fishes/fishfacts/fish/cconspic.htm]. - Profile author
- Mellisa Mayhew (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=32131.
This information is sourced from the WildNet database managed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.
