Species profile—Centropyge aurantia (golden angelfish)
Classification
Animalia (animals) → Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) → Pomacanthidae (anglefishes) → Centropyge aurantia (golden angelfish)
Sighting data
Species details
- Kingdom
- Animalia (animals)
- Class
- Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
- Family
- Pomacanthidae (anglefishes)
- Scientific name
- Centropyge aurantia Randall & Wass, 1974
- Common name
- golden angelfish
- WildNet taxon ID
- 32121
- Conservation significant
- No
- Wetland status
- Wetland Dependant Species
- Endemicity
- Native
- Pest status
- Nil
- Description
- The golden angelfish is golden orange in colour. The body is covered in thin, orange-brown, vertical stripes. The pelvic fins on the fore-belly a longer than the anal fins. There is a narrow blue ring around the eye.
- Distribution
- The species occupies tropical waters of the west Pacific. In Australia, the species range includes Carter Reef on the Great Barrier Reef, far northern Queensland.
- Distributional limits
- 0, 0
0, 0 - Species environment
- Marine
- Habitat
- The golden angelfish occurs in coral reef and inshore areas.
- 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 golden angelfish probably uses caves or coral crevices for shelter.
- 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. 1303. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic. - 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=32121.
This information is sourced from the WildNet database managed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.
