Bluefin dwarf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluefin dwarf |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Centropyge |
| Species: |
C. multispinis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Centropyge multispinis (Playfair, 1867)
|
|
| Script error: The function "autoWithCaption" does not exist. | |
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
The bluefin dwarf angelfish (Centropyge multispinis) is a small, colorful fish. People also call it the brown pygmy angelfish or dusky cherub. This marine angelfish lives in the warm, tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region. It belongs to the angelfish family, Pomacanthidae.
Contents
What the Bluefin Dwarf Angelfish Looks Like
This angelfish has a dark, dusky body. It has black stripes running down its sides. The back fins (dorsal and anal fins) have bright blue edges. These blue edges make the fish stand out.
The dorsal fin has 14 stiff spines and 15 to 17 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 16 to 17 soft rays. This fish can grow up to about 14 centimetres (5.5 in) long. That's about the length of a small smartphone!
Where Bluefin Dwarf Angelfish Live
You can find the bluefin dwarf angelfish in the northern and western Indian Ocean. They live along the eastern coast of Africa, including the Red Sea. They are also found across the Indian Ocean, reaching places like Thailand and Sumatra.
Scientists are still checking if they live near Madagascar. There was one report from Darwin, Northern Territory in Australia. However, this might have been a mistake in identifying the fish.
Life and Habits of the Angelfish
Bluefin dwarf angelfish live in waters that are between 1 and 30 metres (3.3 and 98.4 ft) deep. They like areas with broken rocks and coral pieces. You can often find them near coral reefs. They also live in calm lagoon reefs and on the outer slopes of reefs.
In the Indian Ocean, this is one of the most common types of angelfish. They eat algae and detritus. Detritus is tiny bits of dead plants and animals.
This fish has a special ability: it is a hermaphrodite. This means it can change its sex. They are usually born female. If there is no male angelfish around, one of the females can change into a male. This helps them keep their groups going.
How the Angelfish Was Discovered
The Centropyge multispinis was first officially described in 1867. A Scottish scientist named Lambert Playfair (1828-1899) described it. He found the first example of this fish in Zanzibar.
The name multispinis means "many-spined." This name refers to the 2 to 4 spines on a bone near its gills. Some scientists group this fish with other similar angelfish in a special group called Centropyge.
Bluefin Dwarf Angelfish as Pets
Sometimes, you can find the bluefin dwarf angelfish in pet stores. People buy them for their home aquariums. However, they are not always easy to find.
 | Isaac Myers |
 | D. Hamilton Jackson |
 | A. Philip Randolph |
