Genicanthus personatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Genicanthus
Species:
G. personatus
Binomial name
Genicanthus personatus
Randall, 1975

Genicanthus personatus the masked angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is endemic to Hawaii.

Description

Genicanthus personatus is largely a brilliant white colour at all ages. The juveniles have an area of black colour which covers most of the head. As the fish grows this breaks up starting with the lips which turn bluish white and their caudal fins begin to darken to become black. This species, like all marine angelfish, is a sequential protogynous hermaphrodite and the younger sexually mature adults are all females. The black on the head reduces in extent. The black eventually only surrounds the eyes, is on the chin and along the edge of the operculum and its operculum spine. They also have yellow pelvic fins. Once they reach a length of 15 to 18 centimetres (5.9 to 7.1 in) they may change sex to males. When they do so, they develop a vivid orange yellow pigmentation on the pectoral fins and on the whole face as well as on the margins of its dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. The males develop long filamentous extensions to the caudal fin lobes.[2] This species attains a maximum total length of 21 centimetres (8.3 in).[3]

Distribution

Genicanthus personatus is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, here it is more numerous in the northwestern islands.[1]

Habitat and biology

Genicanthus personatus is found at depths between 10 and 150 metres (33 and 492 ft) where it occurs over rocky reefs and on the outer slopes of reefs. The diet of this species comprises green algae in the genus Codium as well as planktonic organisms and the eggs of fishes.[1] Like all other angelfish the masked angelfish is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with all individuals being female initially and the dominant ones changing to males.[4]

Systematics

Genicanthus personatus was first formally described in 1975 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall (1924–2020) with the type locality given as Honolulu on Oahu.[5] The specific name personatus means “masked”.[6]

Utilisation

Genicanthus personatus is very rare in the aquarium traded down commands high prices.[2] It has been bred in captivity.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pyle, R.; Myers, R.F.; Craig, M.T. (2010). "Genicanthus personatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165874A6154560. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165874A6154560.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Jake Adams (2016). "Genicanthus personatus: The Masked Angelfish". reefs.com. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Genicanthus personatus" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  4. ↑ "GENICANTHUS PERSONATUS - T.B." De Jong Marine Life. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Genicanthus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 17 February 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 17 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Karen Brittain Breeds Genicanthus personatus, the Masked Angelfish, Again!". Reef to Rainforest Media. 30 August 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
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