Peppermint angelfish

The peppermint angelfish (Centropyge boylei) is a relatively small species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Central area of the South Pacific Ocean, and is known to be native to the Cook Islands.

Peppermint angelfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Centropyge
Species:
C. boylei
Binomial name
Centropyge boylei
Pyle & Randall, 1992

Description

The peppermint angelfish has a deep, oval shaped body which has five white vertical bands on a reddish-orange background. The dorsal and anal fins have white margins and the caudal fin is translucent. The face and chin are white.[2][3] This species attains a maximum total length of 7 centimetres (2.8 in).[4]

Distribution

The peppermint angelfish is found in the eastern central Pacific Ocean. It has only been recorded from Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, although it is considered likely that it will be recorded elsewhere in the region.[1]

Habitat and biology

The peppermint angelfish is found at depths of 55 to 120 metres (180 to 394 ft) on areas of coral rubble, overhangs and caves situated in the steep outer slopes of reefs.[1] It is little known but its diet is thought to be made up of worms, crustaceans, sponges, tunicates, and detritus.[3] It has been recorded in pairs or small groups.[1]

Systematics

The peppermint angelfish was first formally described in 1992 by John Ernest Randall (1924–2020) and Richard Pyle.[5] It is placed in the subgenus Paracentropyge by some authorities. Its specific name honours the collector of the type, Charles “Chip” J. Boyle.[6]

Utilisation

The peppermint angelfish is occasionally exported as an aquarium specimen and can fetch high prices (a single specimen was offered to be bought for $30,000).[7]

References
  1. Pyle, R.; Myers, R.F.; Craig, M.T. (2010). "Centropyge boylei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165824A6142025. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165824A6142025.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. "Centropyge boylei Peppermint Angelfish". Cook Islands Biodiversity Database. Bishop Museum. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  3. "Centropyge boylei". Saltcorner!. Bob Goemans. 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  4. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Centropyge boylei" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  5. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Centropyge". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 19 January 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 January 2021.
  7. "The $30,000 Peppermint Angelfish at Waikiki Aquarium". Honolulu.
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