Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus personifer (McCulloch 1914)


Other Names: Blueface Angelfish, Personifer Angelfish, Spottedface Angelfish, Spotted-faced Angel-fish, Yellowface Angelfish, Yellow-tail Angelfish

A Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus personifer, in Exmouth Gulf Western Australia, December 2023. Source: Kristin Anderson / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial

Summary:
A dark brown to blackish angelfish with a broad white bar behind the head, a bluish-grey head covered in yellow spots, a yellow nape, breast and pelvic fins, a yellow tail with a black median band and a narrow black margin, and a narrow blue margin on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins. Small juveniles lack the black band on the tail.

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2018, Chaetodontoplus personifer in Fishes of Australia, accessed 05 Dec 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/648

Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus personifer (McCulloch 1914)

More Info


Distribution

Endemic to north-western Australia, from the Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia, to the Arafura Sea, Northern Territory, at depths of 8-40 m. Juveniles have been seen as far south as the Perth region. 
Inhabits inshore coastal reefs, and open areas with rocky, sponge or coral-covered outcrops - usually solitary or in small groups.

Feeding

Feeds mostly on sponges and other benthic marine invertebrates.

Fisheries

Collected for sale in the aquarium industry.

Similar Species

Similar to and previously confused with the Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus meredethi, which lacks the black bar in the middle of the caudal fin at all sizes.

Species Citation

Holacanthus personifer McCulloch, 1914, Rec. W. A. Mus.1(3): 221. Type locality: Shark Bay, WA.

Author

Bray, D.J. 2018

Resources

Australian Faunal Directory

Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus personifer (McCulloch 1914)

References


Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls.

Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & Allen, M. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Cairns : Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research 250 pp. figs.

Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls.

Grant, E.M. 1991. Fishes of Australia. Brisbane : EM Grant Pty Ltd 480 pp. 

Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Biodiversity of shallow reef fish assemblages in Western Australia using a rapid censusing technique. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20: 247-270 

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 1990. A new species of angelfish (Pomacanthidae), Chaetodontoplus meredithae from eastern Australia. Revue Française d'Aquariologie et Herpétologie 16(4): 113-116.

Kuiter, R.H., Debelius, H. & Tanaka, H. 2003. Pomacanthidae, a Comprehensive Guide to Angelfishes. Melbourne : Zoonetics 206 pp.

Endoh, K. 2007. Angelfishes of the World. Two Little Fishies, Inc., Miami Gardens, Florida.

McCulloch, A.R. 1914. Notes on some Western Australian fishes. Records of the Western Australian Museum 1(3): 211-227 fig. 1 pls 19-31 PDF

Pyle, R., Myers, R. & Rocha, L.A. 2010. Chaetodontoplus personifer. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. . Downloaded on 19 September 2013.

Steene, R.C. 1978. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. A.H. and A.W. Reed Pty Ltd., Australia.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37365008

Conservation:IUCN Least Concern

Depth:8-40 m

Fishing:Aquarium fish

Habitat:Reef associated, silty areas

Max Size:35 cm TL

Native:Endemic

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map