Apolemichthys

Related Articles: The family of Angelfishes, Pomacanthidae,

Genus Apolemichthys Angelfishes

Bob Fenner

Apolemichthys trimaculatus, Fiji

Angelfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
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by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Genus Apolemichthys: Eight species.

Holacanthus arcuatus Gray 1831, The Bandit, Black-Banded Angelfish, Holo-holo... A beauty and heartbreaker... this angel is so "friendly" it can be caught literally by hand... without a net... but rarely lives for any period of time in captivity. Here's an image of one starting to break down (note brown spot on its flank). Imported from its limited range in Hawai'i. Dr. Randall lists in the genus Desmoholacanthus and Fishbase.org in Apolemichthys... Right: 2" juv. by Matt Ross. Below: Aquarium pic of one breaking down badly and a healthy one in Hawai'i.

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Apolemichthys armitagei Smith 1955, the Armitage Angelfish (1). Reportedly very hardy. Only found in the Maldives and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, and infrequently. May be a hybrid twixt A. xanthurus and A. trimaculatus.

Been to both locations, and never seen it.

Apolemichthys griffisi (Carlson & Taylor 1981), Griffis' Angelfish (2). Occasionally imported from Indonesia and the Solomon Islands. Found in various parts of the Central Pacific. To ten inches overall length. Below, seven and nine cm. individuals (Photos by Hiroyuki Tanaka) and six inch one in captivity by RMF.

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Apolemichthys guezei (Randall & Mauge 1978), the Reunion Angelfish (2). Deeper water species (below 60 meters), known only from Reunion Island in the southwest Indian Ocean. To about six inches long.

No pictura ahora mismo.

Apolemichthys kingi Heemstra 1984, the King Angelfish (2). Exceedingly beautiful and rare in the trade. Found only off the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa. To eight inches in length. Photo by Hiroyuki Tanaka.

Apolemichthys trimaculatus (Cuvier 1831), the Three-Spot Angelfish (3). Can make a hardy addition to a good size (100 gallons plus) established reef system. To about six inches long. East African coast to western Pacific. To ten inches in the wild. A 1 1/2" juvenile in captivity and full-size adult in the Seychelles.

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Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus Burgess 1973, the Goldflake or Golden-Spotted Angelfish (1). A fantastically beautiful and hardy species, found scattered about in islands of the central Pacific. To ten inches on the reef. Juvenile pic courtesy of John Boe, adult in aquarium. Below, photos by Hiroyuki Tanaka of 4.5 and 10 cm. specimens and 3.5 and 9 cm. specimens from Christmas Island.

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Apolemichthys xanthotis (Fraser-Brunner 1951), the Red Sea Angelfish (1). Small enough at six inches for home aquarium use. Restricted in range to the Red Sea around to the south, Oman's coast into the Persian Gulf.

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Apolemichthys xanthurus (Bennett 1832), the Indian Yellow-Tail Angelfish (1). A darker version of A. xanthotis. Found around India's southern point and the Maldives. Also to about six inches in length. 3 cm. individual from the Maldives by Hiroyuki Tanaka and sub-adult and adult in captivity by RMF.

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Bibliography/Further Reading on Apolemichthys

Allen, Gerald, Roger Steene & Mark Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Tropical Reef Research/Odyssey Publishing, Singapore/San Diego. 250pp.

Burgess, Warren E. 1973. Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus, a new species of angelfish (family Pomacanthidae from the Pacific Ocean. TFH 8/73.

Pyle, Richard L. 1989. Griffis' angelfish Apolemichthys griffisi (Carlson and Taylor). FAMA 3/89.

Pyle, Richard L. The Armitage angelfish Apolemichthys armitagei Smith. FAMA 4/89.

Pyle, Richard L. 1989. The goldflake angelfish Apolemichthys xanthopunctatus Burgess. FAMA 5/89.

Angelfishes for Marine Aquariums
Diversity, Selection & Care
New eBook on Amazon: Available here
New Print Book on Create Space: Available here

by Robert (Bob) Fenner

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