Angelfish
angelfish
Keyhole Angelfish
Centropyge tibicen
About
A near-black angelfish with one pale patch that looks stamped onto its flank, the keyhole angelfish grows up to 19 cm and is the largest member of its genus, a genus otherwise made up of small dwarf angelfishes.
Also known as: white spot angel, key-hole angelfish
- Length
- 19 cm
- Depth
- up to 55 m
How to tell it apart
Several angelfish in the region are mostly black. The keyhole angelfish is the one with a single pale blotch or bar centred on the upper flank, rather than an all-black body or a different pattern of spots.
Appearance
This fish is mostly black, with a tall, pale blotch on the upper middle of its side that gives it its name. In young fish the blotch starts as a white vertical bar and slowly changes shape as they grow. The dorsal and tail fins each carry a thin blue line near the edge, and the front of the anal fin and much of the pelvic fins are yellow.
Habitat
It lives on lagoon and seaward reefs where coral mixes with rubble, at depths from 4 to 55 metres. It is an uncommon sight even in the right habitat, usually staying close to shelter in small groups.
Did you know?
The keyhole angelfish is the largest species in its genus of dwarf angelfishes, reaching sizes none of its smaller relatives match.
Log it in Into the Blue
Describe what you saw and we name it, then keep every species you find in your Oceandex.
