Species profile—Chaetodontoplus duboulayi (scribbled angelfish)
Classification
Animalia (animals) → Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) → Pomacanthidae (anglefishes) → Chaetodontoplus duboulayi (scribbled angelfish)
Sighting data
Species details
- Kingdom
- Animalia (animals)
- Class
- Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
- Family
- Pomacanthidae (anglefishes)
- Scientific name
- Chaetodontoplus duboulayi (Günther, 1867)
- Common name
- scribbled angelfish
- WildNet taxon ID
- 32132
- Conservation significant
- No
- Wetland status
- Wetland Dependant Species
- Endemicity
- Native
- Pest status
- Nil
- Description
- Adults have a broad yellow vertical band surrounding a white patch behind the head. The yellow continues over the upper back and connects to a yellow tail fin. They have variable blue scribbles over a dark body, dorsal and anal fins. These scribbles are usually fine lines along the body in males. Juveniles have the broad yellow head band and yellow tail, with the yellow over the back developing with age. They grow to a maximum length of 25cm.
- Distribution
- The scribbled angelfish is found in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific from Taiwan, through the Indonesian Archipelago to Australia. In Australia the species occurs from Shark Bay, Western Australia, around the northern Australian coastline to the Great Sandy Region, south-east Queensland. This species is extra-limital to Moreton Bay in the far south-east of Queensland.
- Distributional limits
- 0, 0
0, 0 - Species environment
- Marine
- Habitat
- The scribbled angelfish inhabits silt-bottom areas and coastal reefs with mixed algae and sponge growth. Juveniles are found in narrow ledges or crevices between and under piled-up rocks or large rubble pieces.
- Behaviour
- Adults often occur in pairs or loose aggregations and are easily approached in many areas. Male angelfish defend their territory by driving away other male competitors. This is performed in order to maintain access to a mate.
- 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.
- Diet
- The scribbled angelfish probably feeds on algae on the reef bottom, like many other angelfish species.
- 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.
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, p. 1306. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood.
Kuiter, R.H. (1996). Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland Ltd, Sydney.
Johnson, J., pers. comm. 26.06.08. Re: species distribution. - 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=32132.
This information is sourced from the WildNet database managed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.
