Bicolor Angelfish (species: Centropyge bicolor) in Lizard Island Field Guide (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Centropyge bicolor
Bicolor Angelfish


©Mark Shepherd: Bicolour Angelfish at Lizard Island

©Andy Lewis: An adult Bicolor Angelfish at about 6m depth
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Pomacanthidae
Genus Centropyge
Species Centropyge bicolor

Colours

              

Distinguishing features

A small to medium sized fish with bright yellow front half and tail, and an deep blue rear half plus a blue "cap" over the head.

Size

  • Up to 15 cm (Standard length)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Patches of rubble adjacent to areas of coral on reef slopes and channels.

Found mainly on exposed and semi-exposed reef slopes below 5m.

Behaviour

The Bicolor Angelfish is a benthic omnivore, taking algae, crustaceans, worms and other invertebrates from the reef and rubble areas that it inhabits. This species is a haremic protogynous hermaphrodite. Males maintain a harem of 1-4 females and several immature females throughout the year, and defend the harem territory from other neighbouring males. Mating occurs during the warmer months of November to March.

Web resources

References

  • Aldenhoven, J.M. (1984). Social organisation and sex change in an angelfish Centropyge bicolor on the Great Barrier Reef, Phd thesis, Macquarie University, Sydney. LIRS catalog number 162.
  • Aldenhoven, J.M. (1986). Different reproductive strategies in a sex-changing coral reef fish Centropyge bicolor (Pomacanthidae), Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 37: 353-60. LIRS catalog number 197.
  • Aldenhoven, J.M. (1986). Local variation in mortality rates and life-expectancy estimates of the coral-reef fish Centropyge bicolor (Pisces: Pomacanthidae), Marine Biology, 92: 237-244. LIRS catalog number 203.
  • View all references