THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

150 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
broadcast spawners, with eggs and larvae
passing through an extended planktonic stage.
Remarks: Sometimes confused with the
common longnose butterflyfish (Forcipiger
flavissimus), which is similar in size and color
but has a shorter snout.
Pyramid Butterflyfish
Hemitaurichthys polylepis (Chaetodontidae)
Butterflyfishes
Distribution: Eastern Indian Ocean and the
Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
Habitat: Outer coral reef usually close to dropoffs,
at depths 3–60 m.
Appearance: Brown to black head and a large
white pyramid-shaped area on its side. Scales
pearlescent. The dorsal and anal fins are
yellow; caudal fin white. Max. length: 18 cm.
Diet: Plankton.
R e p r o d u c t i o n a n d D e v e l o p m e n t :
Ovoviviparous. Form pairs during breeding.
Remarks: Occur in large schools that feed
several meters above the edges of steep outer
reef slopes.
Unlike many other butterflyfishes, this species
does not feed on coral polyps, so is considered
a good choice for aquaria with live corals.
Bannerfish aka False Moorish Idol
Heniochus diphreutes (Chaetodontidae)
Butterflyfishes
Distribution: Indo-Pacific; widely distributed
from the Red Sea and the east coast of Africa
to Hawaii.
Habitat: Outer reef slopes, 15–210 m; in the
tropics typically found in cool upwelling
water.
Appearance: White with pair of black bands,
second band terminating at end of anal fin.
Elongate dorsal fin filament. Length to 21 cm.
Diet: Zooplankton.
Reproduction and Development: Ovoviviparous;
form pairs during breeding.
Remarks: Form large schools, and also occur
in small groups or solitary. Elongate dorsal
fin filament, which gives this group of fishes
their “bannerfish” moniker; is the fourth dorsal
spine.
Often called the “false” Moorish Idol for its
markings similar to the Steinhart’s iconic
species; however, the flowing dorsal fin
and larger size of the Idol are distinctive
differentiations.
Cherubfish
Centropyge argi (Pomacanthidae)
Angelfishes
Distribution: Bermuda, Florida, Bahamas, Yucatan
and Central American coast to Guianas.
Habitat: Nocturnally active in pairs or small
groups in rubble areas near rocky or coral reefs,
occasionally walls. Depth 9–105 m, commonly
deeper than 30 m.
Appearance: Length to 8 cm. Small, oval angelfish.
Dark blue body, yellow-orange face,
blue ring around eye.
Diet: Algae.
Mortality/Longevity: Preyed on by other fish
such as yellow-finned tuna
Remarks: This small angelfsh darts into
crevices when frightened or pursued by
predators.
Coral Beauty aka Dusky Angelfish
Centropyge bispinosus (Pomacanthidae)
Angelfishes
Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
Habitat: Coral lagoons and seaward reef slopes
at about 9 m.
Appearance: A dwarf angelfish that rarely
exceeds 10 cm. Color variable, though most
often light orange or purple with vertical bars
on the sides of the body.
Diet: Mostly algae, but also some small
invertebrates.
Reproduction and Development: Thought to
be a protogynous hermaphrodite.
Remarks: A shy species found in lagoons and
seaward reef slopes. Note the Steinhart’s Coral
Beauty is often found peering warily from
behind coral protection.
The smallest of the marine angelfishes.
Flame Angelfish
Centropyge loricula (Pomacanthidae)
Angelfishes
Distribution: Tropical lagoons and reefs of the
Indian and Pacific Ocean.
Habitat: Marine coral reefs; shy, stays near
shelter; depth from 15–60 m.