Genicanthus takeuchii
A sexually dichromatic angelfish from deep Pacific reefs.
Genicanthus takeuchii, called the spotted angelfish or Takeuchi's angelfish, is a marine angelfish in the family Pomacanthidae. It lives in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Males and females look different, a trait called sexual dichromatism. The male has a greyish white upper body with six to eight horizontal stripes, and a pale white lower body. Large black spots mark the dorsal and caudal fins. The female is greyish white overall, with a dense pattern of black spots on the upper body and caudal fin. Juveniles show a honeycomb pattern on the upper body. The dorsal fin has 15 spines and 16 soft rays; the anal fin has 3 spines and 17–18 soft rays. This species reaches a maximum total length of 25 cm (9.8 in).
Its range is limited to Marcus Island and the Ogasawara Islands, southeast of Japan, and it has also been found in the Marianas Islands. It inhabits deep coral reefs at depths of 25 to 60 meters (82 to 197 ft), though little is known about its biology.
The species was first formally described in 1997 by American ichthyologist Richard L. Pyle as *Holocanthus semifasciatus*, with the type locality at Ani-jima, Mansakunohama in the Ogasawara Islands. The specific name honors Japanese diver Hiroshi Takeuchi, who discovered it. *Genicanthus takeuchii* is known to hybridize with the Japanese swallow (*Genicanthus semifasciatus*). It does not appear in the aquarium trade.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Genicanthus takeuchii
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Genicanthus takeuchii was first formally described in 1997 as Holocanthus semifasciatus by American ichthyologist Richard L. Pyle, with the type locality given as Ani-jima, Mansakunohama in the Ogasawara Islands of Japan. The specific name honors the discoverer, Japanese diver Hiroshi Takeuchi. The species is known to hybridize with the Japanese swallow (Genicanthus semifasciatus).
Males are greyish white on the upper body with six to eight horizontal stripes, while the lower body is pale white; the dorsal and caudal fins are marked with large black spots. Females are overall greyish white with a dense pattern of black spots on the upper body and caudal fin. Juveniles have a honeycomb pattern on the upper body. This species attains a maximum total length of 25 centimeters.
It is restricted to Marcus Island and the Ogasawara Islands southeast of Japan, with additional records from the Marianas Islands. It inhabits deep coral reefs at depths between 25 and 60 meters.
Reader's Guide
Genicanthus takeuchii is a little-known species of deep coral reef angelfish. Its restricted distribution to Marcus Island, the Ogasawara Islands, and the Marianas Islands in the northwestern Pacific Ocean makes it a geographically limited species. The species exhibits sexual dichromatism, a characteristic shared with other Genicanthus angelfishes, with males and females differing in color and pattern. Notably, it does not appear in the aquarium trade, limiting its exposure to hobbyists. The species is known to hybridize with Genicanthus semifasciatus, indicating potential reproductive interactions in overlapping habitats. Its description in 1997 by Richard L. Pyle, with the specific name honoring diver Hiroshi Takeuchi, highlights the role of field discovery in ichthyology. The species' depth range of 25 to 60 meters places it in deeper reef zones, contributing to its relatively obscure status.
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