Cocos-Keeling angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cocos-Keeling angelfish |
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The Cocos-Keeling angelfish (also called Centropyge colini or Colin's angelfish) is a small, colorful fish. It's a type of marine angelfish, which means it lives in the ocean. These fish are part of a family called Pomacanthidae. You can find them in the Indo-West Pacific area, which includes parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
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What Does It Look Like?
This angelfish is mostly bright lemon-yellow. It has a wide blue stripe that runs from its neck area along its back, reaching the middle of its top fin (called the dorsal fin). You might also notice a thin, purplish ring around its eye.
The dorsal fin has 14 strong spines and 16 to 17 soft rays. Its bottom fin, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 17 soft rays. This little fish can grow up to about 9 centimetres (3.5 in) long. That's about the length of a credit card!
Where Does It Live?
The Cocos-Keeling angelfish lives in different places across the Indo-West Pacific region. It has been seen in areas like the Spratly Islands, Palau, and Papua New Guinea. You can also find it near Indonesia, the Marshall Islands, the Cocos Keeling Islands, Fiji, and Guam. There's also a possible sighting near the Ogasawara Islands off Japan.
Its Home and Habits
This angelfish likes to live in deeper parts of the ocean. You can find it at depths between 20 and 100 metres (66 and 328 ft). It's a very shy and secretive fish. It often hides in small cracks, caves, and deep drop-offs on coral reefs.
Cocos-Keeling angelfish usually live in small groups. These groups often have one male fish and a few females, usually two to six. If the male fish leaves or disappears, the most dominant female in the group will take his place. Scientists don't know much about what these fish eat.
How It Got Its Name
The Cocos-Keeling angelfish was first officially described in 1974. Two scientists, William F. Smith-Vaniz and Ernest J. Randall, gave it its scientific name. They found the first example of this fish at Turks Reef in the Cocos-Keeling Islands.
The name "colini" was chosen to honor another biologist named Patrick L. Colin. He helped collect the very first fish specimen that scientists used to describe the species.
Is It in Aquariums?
This beautiful angelfish is quite rare in the aquarium trade. You won't often see it for sale in pet stores that specialize in fish.
See also
In Spanish: Centropyge colini para niños
