Orangeface angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Orangeface angelfish |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Chaetodontoplus |
| Species: |
C. chrysocephalus
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| Binomial name | |
| Chaetodontoplus chrysocephalus (Bleeker, 1855)
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| Synonyms | |
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Holacanthus chrysocephalus Bleeker, 1855 |
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The orangeface angelfish is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. It's also known as the blue vermiculate angelfish or maze angelfish. This fish is a type of marine angelfish. It belongs to a family called Pomacanthidae. You can find it in the Pacific Ocean.
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What Does It Look Like?
The orangeface angelfish has a special look. Its face is a brownish-orange color. This stands out against its body, which has greenish-blue stripes.
Towards its tail, the body turns dark brown. Its tail fin is a bright yellow! This fish can grow up to about 22 centimetres (8.7 in) long. That's about the length of a school ruler.
It has two main fins on its back and belly. The fin on its back has 13 stiff spines and 17 to 18 soft rays. The fin on its belly has 3 spines and 17 to 18 soft rays.
Where Does It Live?
The orangeface angelfish lives in the western part of the Pacific Ocean. It's a bit of a mystery fish because it's not seen very often.
Most reliable sightings have been in the Java Sea in Indonesia. Some reports from other places, like the Philippines or Taiwan, might be mistakes. These could be other similar angelfish species. The last known sighting was around 2002 in the Java Sea.
Its Home and What It Eats
The orangeface angelfish has been found in the Java Sea at depths of 20 to 25 metres (66 to 82 ft). That's like diving down several stories of a building!
Scientists think it probably lives on deep, rocky reefs. We don't know much about its daily life. However, we do know what it likes to eat. Its diet includes sponges and tunicates. These are simple sea creatures that live on the ocean floor.
How It Got Its Name
The orangeface angelfish was first officially described in 1855. A Dutch scientist named Pieter Bleeker gave it the name Holocanthus chrysocephalus. He was a doctor who studied fish and reptiles.
The name chrysocephalus comes from two Greek words. Chrysos means "gold," and cephalus means "head." This name perfectly describes its yellowish-orange head!
Is It in Aquariums?
The orangeface angelfish is very rare in the aquarium trade. You won't see it often in fish stores.
 | Calvin Brent |
 | Walter T. Bailey |
 | Martha Cassell Thompson |
 | Alberta Jeannette Cassell |
