Zoology Museum

Post Graduates and Research Department of Zoology, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin 628 008 Tamil Nadu

Pi160 Apolemichthys xanthurus (Cream Angelfish or Yellowtail Angelfish)

 Pi160                    Apolemichthys xanthurus (Cream Angelfish or Yellowtail Angelfish)

 

Phylum   : Chordata

Class       : Actinopterygii  

Order      : Perciformes

Family    : Pomocanthidae

Genus     : Apolemichthys

Species    : A. xanthurus

 

 

Description

Habitats:  Reef-associated; non-migratory; marine; depth range 5 - 20 m

Distribution: Western Indian Ocean: Mauritius to India and Sri Lanka.

Morphology:  Apolemichthys xanthurus has a body which has a cream background colour with a network of dark lines on the scales creating a lattice pattern over this. The edges of the body are a solid dark colour. The caudal fin is bright yellow while the dorsal and anal fins are black with a white margin. Like they closely related, Apolemichthys xanthotis this species has a yellow spot on the upper preoperculum but the black on the head does not extend as far as this spot so it contrasts less with its background. The juveniles have a wide black band running over the eye and an oblique are of black on the back, this patch fades as the fish matures.The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 17-19 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 15 centimetres.

 

IUCN status: Least Concern 

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