Paracentropyge multifasciata, also known as the barred angelfish, banded pygmy-angelfish, many-banded angelfish, multi-banded angelfish, or multibarred angelfish, is a captivating marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. Let’s dive into some fascinating details about this elegant underwater creature:
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Appearance:
- The barred angelfish has a white background color on the body adorned with eight black vertical bars. These bars change color to yellowish as they approach the ventral part of the body.
- An obvious black spot graces the posterior portion of the dorsal fin, which fades as the fish ages.
- The mouth, as well as the pelvic and anal fins, are yellow.
- Each spine in the dorsal fin is tipped with a single thin thread, and there’s a pair of these threads on the tips of the pelvic fins.
- Juveniles have less distinct bands.
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Distribution:
- Paracentropyge multifasciata is found in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Its range extends from the Australian territory of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the west to the Society Islands in French Polynesia.
- It reaches north to the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan and south to the Great Barrier Reef of Queensland.
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Habitat and Behavior:
- This species inhabits depths between 7 and 70 meters (23 to 230 feet).
- It prefers overhangs, caves, and crevices on the steep outer slopes of reefs.
- Barred angelfish are cryptic and rarely move far from their hiding places.
- They are typically encountered in pairs or small groups.
- Their diet includes algae, sponges, tunicates, and various crustaceans.
- Paracentropyge multifasciata lives in harems, with one dominant male and multiple females.
- Like other angelfish, it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with all individuals initially female and the dominant ones changing to males.
- They are broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm into the water following a lengthy mating ritual. The eggs hatch after 16–18 hours, and the larvae have a pelagic phase lasting up to 50 days before settling into a benthic phase and undergoing metamorphosis into juveniles.
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Taxonomy and Etymology:
- Paracentropyge multifasciata was first formally described as Holocanthus multifasciatus in 1911 by American ichthyologists Hugh McCormick Smith and Lewis Radcliffe.
- The type locality was given as Puerto Galera on Mindoro in the Philippines.
This exquisite multibarred angelfish adds a touch of elegance to the underwater world!
