Yellow-ear angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-ear angelfish |
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Holacanthus xanthotis Fraser-Brunner, 1950 |
The yellow-ear angelfish (scientific name: Apolemichthys xanthotis) is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of marine angelfish, known for its bright colors and interesting patterns. These fish are part of a group called ray-finned fish, which means their fins are supported by bony rays.
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What Does the Yellow-Ear Angelfish Look Like?
This angelfish usually has a mostly white body. Its head is black, and its tail is yellow, which makes it easy to spot! The fins on its back (dorsal fin) and belly (anal fin) are black with white edges.
The black color on its head covers more area than on some other angelfish. It goes across its gill cover and onto the first few rows of scales on its body. This dark area stands out against a bright yellow spot near its eye.
Young yellow-ear angelfish look a bit different. They have a wide black stripe over their eye and a black patch on their back. As they grow up, this black patch fades away. This fish can grow up to about 20 centimeters (8 inches) long.
Where Does the Yellow-Ear Angelfish Live?
The yellow-ear angelfish lives in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean. You can find it in places like the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf. It also lives near Socotra, an island.
After a big weather event called El Nino in 1998, some of these fish were even seen off the coast of Kenya for a while!
What is the Yellow-Ear Angelfish's Home Like?
This angelfish likes to live in water that is between 10 and 80 meters (about 33 to 262 feet) deep. They prefer areas with lots of coral or rocky reefs.
You'll often see them swimming in pairs or small groups. They probably eat algae (like sea plants) and small creatures that live on the ocean floor, especially sponges.
About Its Name
The yellow-ear angelfish was first officially described in 1950. It was named Holacanthus xanthotis by a British fish expert named Alec Fraser-Brunner. The first place it was found was Al-Mukalla, on the Red Sea coast of Yemen.
Its scientific name, xanthotis, means "yellow ear." This name refers to that special yellow spot near its eye.
This species is closely related to two other angelfish: A. griffisi, which lives in the Western Pacific Ocean, and A. xanthurus, which lives in the Indian Ocean.
Yellow-Ear Angelfish in Aquariums
The yellow-ear angelfish is not very common in the aquarium trade. This is a bit surprising because people who keep aquariums often say it's a beautiful, strong, and easy-to-care-for fish.
