TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)
Genus/species: Genicanthus lamarck
female above
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Sexually dimorphic; white or silver body with horizontal black stripes from eye to speckled lyre tails. Females have bolder stripes, one extending into the tail. Males have a yellow spot on the forehead, longer more pointed caudal fin and jet black pelvic fins; females’, white.
Maximum length: 25 cm (10 in)
male below
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Indo-Pacific reef dweller. They prefer the top to middle of their depth range 15–35m, (30-100 ft) unlike most other angelfish.
DIET IN THE WILD: G. lamarck are also the only group of angelfish that feed on plankton.
REPRODUCTION: Males maintain harems, scatter pelagic eggs after mid-water mating rituals. The eggs and larvae drift, then settle onto the reef at the time of metamorphosis to the juvenile stage.
CONSERVATION: IUCN Red List Least concern (LC)
REMARKS: Males and females are so distinct the sexes were once considered separate species. One of the few angelfish to display sexual dimorphism. Their genus, Genicanthus, is distinctive among angelfish for their lyre tails, an adaptation to open water, fast swimming.
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Philippine Coral Reef 2016
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-1co
EOL eol.org/pages/218646/details
fishbase fishbase.org/summary/6612
Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/3142850563/in/album-72157625992053826/
Ron's Critter of the Day 