Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus meredithi (Kuiter, 1990)

Scientific name: Chaetodontoplus meredithi
Alternative name/s:
Meredith's Angelfish, Yellowtail Angelfish,Yellow-finned Angelfish
Two Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish Click to enlarge image
Two Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish at a depth of 10 m, Wolf Rock, off Rainbow Beach, Queensland, August 2004. Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Chaetodontoplus
    Species
    meredithi
    Family
    Pomacanthidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The Yellowtail Angelfish grows to 25 cm in length.

Introduction

As its standard name implies, the Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish has a yellow caudal fin. The species is endemic to Australia.

Identification

The Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish can be recognised by its colouration. Its head is blue with yellow spots. Juveniles have a white band behind the head that darkens as the fish grows. The nape, breast and caudal fin are yellow. The body is black.

Like all angelfishes, the Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish has a stout preopercular spine.

Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish
Two Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish at a depth of 10 m, Wolf Rock, off Rainbow Beach, Queensland, August 2004. Image: Dave Harasti
© Dave Harasti

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia. It occurs in tropical and warm temperate marine waters from northern Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales. It is also known from Lord Howe Island.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.