Twospined angelfish facts for kids
The twospined angelfish is a beautiful fish that lives in the ocean. It's also known as the dusky angelfish or coral beauty. This fish is a type of marine angelfish and belongs to a group called Pomacanthidae. You can find them in the warm waters of the Indo-Pacific region.
Quick facts for kids Twospined angelfish |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Centropyge |
| Species: |
C. bispinosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Centropyge bispinosa (Günther, 1860)
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Contents
What Does the Twospined Angelfish Look Like?
The twospined angelfish has a dark purplish-blue body. It has orange stripes that run up and down its sides. Its top fin (called the dorsal fin), tail fin (called the caudal fin), and bottom fin (called the anal fin) all have bright blue edges.
This fish has 14 spines and 17 to 18 soft rays in its dorsal fin. Its anal fin has 3 spines and 17 to 19 soft rays. The twospined angelfish can grow up to about 10 centimeters (4 inches) long.
Where Do Twospined Angelfish Live?
You can find the twospined angelfish in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. Their home stretches from the coast of East Africa, near Tanzania and South Africa. It goes all the way east to the Tuamotu Islands in French Polynesia.
To the north, they live near the Izu Islands in Japan. To the south, they are found near Lord Howe Island in Australia. In Australia, they also live along the west coast near Rowley Shoals. On the east coast, they are found from Raine Island to Bass Point. They also live around Christmas Island. Farther out in the ocean, they can be seen at places like Norfolk Island and Elizabeth Reef.
Life in the Ocean: Habitat and Behavior
Twospined angelfish live in coral reefs. They prefer depths from about 5 to 50 meters (16 to 164 feet) underwater. You can find them in calm lagoons, rocky areas, and along steep drop-offs in the reef. They are most common near these drop-offs.
These fish live in small groups. Each group usually has one male and a few females. If the male fish in a group dies or disappears, the strongest female will change into a male. This helps the group continue to thrive. Twospined angelfish eat algae and small bits of dead plant and animal matter (called detritus).
Twospined Angelfish and People
The twospined angelfish is a popular fish for home aquariums. Many people enjoy keeping them because of their beautiful colors. They are often traded in the aquarium hobby.
