Chaetodontoplus meridithii explained

Chaetodontoplus meridithii, the Queensland yellowtail angelfish, Meredith's angelfish or yellow-finned angelfish, yellowtail angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found off eastern Australia.

Description

Chaetodontoplus meridithii has a black body with a bluish-grey to blue face marked with yellow spots. There is a white band behind the head.,[1] The forehead is yellow and there is another yellow patch on the chest.[2] The pectoral fins are largely black with yellowish margins, and the caudal fin is yellow.[1] The dorsal and anal fins have yellowish to blue margins. The dorsal fin contains 13 spines and 17-19 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 17-19 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 25cm (10inches).

Distribution

Chaetodontoplus meridithii is endemic to eastern Australia. The range of this species extends from Cape York in Queensland south as far as Sydney. It also occurs around Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.[1]

Habitat and biology

Chaetodontoplus meridithii is found at depths of 10mto50mm (30feetto160feetm) on coastal reefs and open areas which have substrates of rock, coral, sponge, or outcrops of sea whips. The juveniles prefer shallower waters than the adults and they are often found among sponges under jetties. The adults are mainly encountered in pairs but sometimes they are solitary, generally in deeper waters at depths greater than 30m (100feet). They feed on sponges and tunicates.

Systematics

Chaetodontoplus meridithii was first formally described in 1989 by the Netherlands-born Australian underwater photographer, taxonomist, marine biologist Rudie Hermann Kuiter with the type locality given as the Pilot Station in Port Jackson. The specific name honours the collector of the type, the aquarist and dive instructor John G. Meredith.[3]

Utilisation

Chaetodontoplus meridithii makes an occasional appearance in the aquarium trade.

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bray, D.J.. 2018 . Chaetodontoplus meredithi . Fishes of Australia . 12 February 2021 . Museums Victoria.
  2. Web site: Chaetodontoplus meredithii . 12 February 2021. Bob Goemans . 2012 . Saltcorner!.
  3. Web site: Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 1): Families LOBOTIDAE, POMACANTHIDAE, DREPANEIDAE and CHAETODONTIDAE . The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database . 11 February 2021 . 21 July 2020 . Christopher Scharpf . Kenneth J. Lazara . amp . Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara.