ANIMAL SPECIES:Ballina Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus ballinae (Whitley, 1959)
The Ballina Angelfish is a protected species that is only known from northern coastal New South Wales and Balls Pyramid, near Lord Howe Island, New South Wales.
Identification
The Ballina Angelfish can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is pearly grey to whitish with a broad region of black covering much of the back and pectoral fin base. There are black areas through the mouth and eye. The pectoral and caudal fins are yellow.
Size range
The species grows to 20 cm in length.Distribution
The Ballina Angelfish is only known from coastal northern New South Wales and Balls Pyramid, near Lord Howe Island, New South Wales.
The species was described in 1959 by G.P. Whitley, Curator of the Australian Museum Fish Department for 42 years. He described the species based on a single specimen caught off Ballina, northern New South Wales.
It wasn't until 1978 that another specimen was collected by K. Graham (ex. NSW Fisheries, now AM Research Associate), working aboard the FRV Kapala. This fish was trawled from a depth of around 120 m off Evans Head (AMS I.22515-001)
Three specimens were obtained in 1994 by P. Parker at a depth of 25 m near Ball's Pyramid (AMS I.34842-001).
The NORFANZ expedition in 2003 trawled three specimens at a depth of 90 m, near Ball's Pyramid, south-east of Lord Howe Island. K. Graham and K. Parkinson (NORFANZ voyage participants) registered one of these specimens into the Australian Museum Fish Collection (AMS I.42727-004).
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Ballina Angelfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
It occurs in subtropical marine waters at depths between 15 m and 120 m.
Conservation Status
It is protected in New South Wales waters.
Classification
- Species:
- ballinae
- Genus:
- Chaetodontoplus
- Family:
- Pomacanthidae
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
Further Reading
- Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Parker, P. 1994. The rediscovery of the Ballina Angelfish Chaetodontoplus ballinae, two new fish records for Lord Howe Island, Australia. Freshwater and Marine Aquarium. August: 112-115.
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A Ballina Angelfish near Ball's Pyramid View full size
Peter Parker
© Peter Parker
A Ballina Angelfish from the NORFANZ expedition View full size
Kerryn Parkinson
© NORFANZ Founding Parties
Holotype of Ballina Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus ballinae View full size
Mark Allen
© Australian Museum
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