Lemonpeel Angelfish, Centropyge flavissima (Cuvier 1831)
A Lemonpeel Angelfish, Centropyge flavissima, at North Solitary Island, New South Wales, April 2015. Source: Ian Shaw / iNaturalist.org. License: CC by Attribution-NonCommercial
Video showing the hand collection of Lemonpeel Angelfish at Holmes Reef in the Coral Sea.
Lemonpeel Angelfish, Centropyge flavissima (Cuvier 1831)
More Info
Distribution |
Northern Great Barrier Reef and reefs in the Coral Sea, Queensland, south to the Solitary Islands, New South Wales; also Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean, and the Lord Howe Province in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species occurs in the tropical East-Indo-west-central Pacific. Inhabits coral rich areas in lagoons and on seaward reefs, usually in shallow water above 20 m. |
Features |
Dorsal fin XIV-XV 15-16: Anal fin II, 16; Lateral scale rows 44-50. |
Feeding |
Feeds mostly on filamentous algae. |
Biology |
A protogynous hermaphrodite (changes sex from female to male). Usually seen in small haremic groups comprised of a single dominant male and several females. |
Remarks |
This species hybridises with Centropyge eibli and C. vrolikii. The species is also mimicked by juvenile Acanthurus pyroferus. |
Etymology |
The specific name flavissima is from the Latin flavum (= yellow) and -issimus (= the most) in reference to the bright yellow colour of this species. |
Species Citation |
Holacanthus flavissimus Cuvier, 1831, Hist. Nat. Poiss: 197. Type locality: Uléa, Caroline Islands. |
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2022 |
Resources |
Lemonpeel Angelfish, Centropyge flavissima (Cuvier 1831)
References
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Allen, G.R., Steene, R.C. & Orchard, M. 2007. Fishes of Christmas Island. Christmas Island : Christmas Island Natural History Association 2 edn, 284 pp.
Allen, G.R. & Smith-Vaniz, W.F. 1994. Fishes of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Atoll Research Bulletin 412: 1-21.
Cuvier, G.L. in Cuvier, G.L. & Valenciennes, A. 1831. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Paris : Levrault Vol. 7 531 pp. pls 170-208.
De Vis, C.W. 1884. New fishes in the Queensland Museum. No. 2. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 1 9(3): 453-462 (described as Holacanthus sphynx, type locality Queensland)
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