Mango angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mango angelfish |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Centropyge |
| Species: |
C. shepardi
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| Binomial name | |
| Centropyge shepardi J. E. Randall & Yasuda, 1979
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The Centropyge shepardi, also known as the mango angelfish or Shepard’s angelfish, is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. It is a type of marine angelfish and belongs to the family called Pomacanthidae. You can find this fish in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The mango angelfish has an oval-shaped body. Its top fin (called the dorsal fin) and bottom fin (called the anal fin) are rounded or slightly pointed at their ends. The fish's main color is orange, but this can change from a deep red to a lighter apricot color. The top part of its body is usually a bit darker than the belly.
Most mango angelfish have dark stripes going up and down their bodies. Sometimes these stripes are only a small patch behind their gills, and very rarely, they might not have any stripes at all. Male angelfish have a bright blue edge on the soft parts of their dorsal and anal fins. The dorsal fin has 14 stiff spines and 16 to 18 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 17 to 18 soft rays. This fish can grow up to 9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
The mango angelfish lives in the western Pacific Ocean. It is only found in a few specific places: the Northern Marianas Islands, Guam, and the Ogasawara Islands in southern Japan. It has also been seen near the Izu Islands in Japan, but these might just be fish that wandered off course. There have been reports of it in Palau and the Philippines, but these sightings need to be confirmed.
Life in the Ocean
The mango angelfish is quite common in the areas where it lives. You can find it in waters that are 10 to 56 meters (about 33 to 184 feet) deep. These fish usually live in small groups on the outer parts of coral reefs that are open to the ocean. Sometimes, they can also be found in reefs inside calm lagoons.
They like to live in places where there is a mix of live and dead coral, with lots of holes and caves where they can hide. The mango angelfish mainly eats plants, especially algae.
Reproduction
These fish live in small groups called harems, which usually have 3 to 7 individuals. The mango angelfish lays eggs, and they release their eggs and sperm into the water. It is thought that they start laying eggs in September, and this happens around sunset. The male fish will show off to a female, gently pushing and chasing her until she releases her eggs. Then, the male releases his sperm. The eggs hatch after about 2 to 3 days.
Who Discovered It?
The mango angelfish was officially described for the first time in 1979. It was named by two scientists, John Ernest Randall and Fujio Yasuda. They found the first example of this fish near Cocos Island in Guam. The fish's specific name, shepardi, was given to honor John W. Shepard from the University of Guam. He noticed that this species lived in the same area as another angelfish, C. bispinosa, and pointed out that they had a different number of fin rays.
Can You Keep It as a Pet?
The mango angelfish is not very common in the aquarium trade. If you do find one for sale, it is usually quite expensive.
