African flameback angelfish (Centropyge acanthops)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Centropyge acanthops
- Common name
- African flameback angelfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Pomacanthidae
- Genus
- Centropyge
- Size
- 5–8 cm
- Depth
- 3–40 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Centropyge acanthops reaches 8 cm. Very small dwarf angel (Centropyge) with main western Indian Ocean distribution (Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa), sometimes vagrant in tropical East Atlantic (Cape Verde). Deep blue-purple body with entirely bright yellow-orange back and tail (hence flameback African pygmy angelfish). Terminal males more colorful. Lives from 3 to 40 m on shelter-rich rocky reefs. Protogynous hermaphrodite. African cousin of iconic Centropyge: C. bicolor Indo-Pacific (batch 11). Iconic macro photo subject of South Africa dives notably.
Photo of African flameback angelfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the African flameback angelfish?
- African flameback angelfish (Centropyge acanthops) reaches 5–8 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the African flameback angelfish?
- African flameback angelfish is found between 3–40 m deep.
- Is the African flameback angelfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the African flameback angelfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the African flameback angelfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Centropyge
- Centropyge aurantonotus - Flameback angelfish
- Centropyge bicolor - Bicolor angelfish
- Centropyge loricula - Flame Angelfish
- Centropyge bispinosa - Yellowtail Angelfish
- Centropyge tibicen - Zebra Angelfish
- Centropyge vrolikii - Cherub Angelfish
Other species in the family Pomacanthidae
- Holacanthus ciliaris - Queen angelfish
- Holacanthus tricolor - Rock beauty
- Pomacanthus paru - French angelfish
- Pomacanthus arcuatus - Gray angelfish
- Pomacanthus xanthometopon - Yellowmask angelfish
- Pomacanthus zonipectus - Cortez angelfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 211775)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2396533)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia