Resplendent pygmy angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Resplendent pygmy angelfish |
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The resplendent pygmy angelfish (Centropyge resplendens) is a beautiful, small fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of marine angelfish and belongs to a family of fish called Pomacanthidae. This special fish is found only around Ascension Island in the South Atlantic Ocean.
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What It Looks Like
This angelfish is mostly a deep blue color. It has a bright yellow patch on its nose. Yellow also runs along its back and on its top fin, called the dorsal fin. Its tail fin, or caudal fin, is also yellow.
The dorsal fin has 14 stiff spines and 16 soft rays. The fin on its belly, called the anal fin, has 3 spines and 17 rays. This fish is quite small. It grows to a maximum length of about 6 centimetres (2.4 in), which is less than 2.5 inches.
Where It Lives
The resplendent pygmy angelfish lives in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is found only in the waters around Ascension Island. This means it is endemic to that area. You won't find it naturally anywhere else in the world!
Its Home and Life
The resplendent pygmy angelfish lives in the ocean at depths between 15 and 40 metres (49 and 131 ft). It likes areas with rocks and rubble on the seafloor.
What It Eats
This angelfish mainly eats algae. It also feeds on detritus, which is tiny bits of dead plants and animals.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Like other fish in its group, the resplendent pygmy angelfish can change its sex. Young fish are not set as male or female yet. They grow up to be female first. If there is no male fish around, the strongest female can change into a male. This change can even be reversed if needed, but it takes a few weeks.
About Its Name
The resplendent pygmy angelfish was first officially described in 1975. It was named by two scientists, Hugh Roger Lubbock and Richard D. Sankey. The word resplendens in its scientific name means "resplendent." This refers to how beautiful and bright its colors are.
In Aquariums
This angelfish is not very common in home aquariums. It has been successfully bred in captivity, meaning people have managed to get them to have babies in tanks. However, this doesn't happen very often.
