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Pitcairn angelfish

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Species of marine ray-finned fish

Pitcairn angelfish
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Acanthuriformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Genicanthus
Species: G. spinus
Binomial name
Genicanthus spinus
Randall, 1975

The Pitcairn angelfish (Genicanthus spinus) is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Description

The Pitcairn angelfish like the other angelfishes in the genus Genicanthus, shows sexual dichromatism, the males and females show differences in colour and pattern. The males have a white body which is marked with many vertical black stripes while the females have an overall bluish white colouration. In both sexes the forked tail narrows at its base to create a “swallow tail”. The dorsal fin contains 15 spines and 17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 18-19 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 35 centimetres (14 in).

Distribution

Genicanthus spinus is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It has been recorded from the islands of Raivavae and Rurutu in the Austral Islands of French Polynesia Dulcie Atoll in the UK Overseas Territory of the Pitcairn Islands and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.

Habitat and biology

Genicanthus spinus Is found on rock and coral reefs at depths between 30 and 60 metres (98 and 197 ft) (at least). it is normally encountered in groups that swim high in the water column, these are harems of 1 male and as many as 4 females. They feed mostly on zooplankton but may eat some benthic invertebrates.

Systematics

Genicanthus spinus was first formally described in 1975 by the American ichthyologists John E. Randall (1924–2020) with the type locality given as Bounty Bay on Pitcairn Island. The specific name spinus means “spine” and refers to the very large anterior spine in front of the eye.

References

  1. ^ Pyle, R.; Myers, R.F. (2010). "Genicanthus spinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165846A6147400. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165846A6147400.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Genicanthus spinus". FishBase. December 2019 version.
  3. "Genicanthus spinus". Saltcorner!. Bob Goemans. 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  4. John E. Randall (1975). "A Revision of the Indo-Pacific Angelfish Genus Genicanthus, with Descriptions of Three New Species". Bulletin of Marine Science. 25 (3): 393–421.
  5. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Genicanthus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  6. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (21 July 2020). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 1): Families LOBOTIDAE, POMACANTHIDAE, DREPANEIDAE and CHAETODONTIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
Taxon identifiers
Genicanthus spinus
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