Centropyge potteri
A bright orange angelfish of Hawaiian and Johnston Atoll reefs.
The russet angelfish, also called Potter's angelfish or Potter's pygmy angelfish, is a marine angelfish from the family Pomacanthidae. This fish lives in the central Pacific Ocean.
Its body is bright orange with thin vertical stripes that range from blue to black. The dorsal, caudal, and anal fins have a vivid blue edge, while the pectoral and pelvic fins are orange to bright yellow. Males show a wider blue area in the middle of the body that extends onto the belly. A deep-water color morph exists below 60 meters (200 ft), where the stripes become black or purple, sometimes black to burgundy. The species reaches a maximum total length of 10 centimeters (3.9 in).
The fish is found around the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll in the central Pacific. It lives at depths between 10 and 120 meters (33 and 394 ft), in areas of rock, coral, or rubble on seaward reefs. Juveniles occasionally occur in water as shallow as 5 meters (16 ft). This benthopelagic species feeds on algae and detritus. It may form small social groups called harems, with one male and up to eight females. They are protogynous hermaphrodites: if no male is present, the dominant female changes sex. Spawning happens between December and May, usually around nightfall. A pair selects a high rock outcrop in their territory. The male courts the female by swimming alongside her in a vertical, sinuous motion, then moves above her, stops, raises his dorsal and anal fins, flutters his pectoral fins, and drifts slowly. If she does not respond, he repeats the sinuous swimming. When ready to mate, their red color intensifies, and they make audible grunts and clicks. The male leads the female to the outcrop and continues the display about 90 cm above it. When the female signals readiness, the male briefly nuzzles her vent until she releases eggs. He immediately releases milt, and both fish dive for cover, with the female chasing the male and nipping his caudal fin. They then retreat to their night shelter.
The species was first formally described in 1912 by American ichthyologists David Starr Jordan and Charles William Metz, with the type locality given as Honolulu on Oahu. Its specific name honors Frederick A. Potter, the first director of the Waikiki Aquarium (1904–1940). Some authorities place it in the subgenus *Centropyge*. The fish appears in the aquarium trade.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Centropyge potteri
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Centropyge potteri has a bright orange body marked with thin vertical stripes which are blue to black in colour. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins have a vivid blue margin while the pectoral and pelvic fins are orange to bright yellow. Males have a wider area of blue in the middle of the body extending down onto the belly. A deep-water vivid blue color morph, with black or purple stripes, occurs at depths below 60 meters (200 ft). This species attains a maximum total length of 10 centimeters (3.9 in).
It is found in the central Pacific Ocean around the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, living at depths between 10 and 120 meters in areas of rock, coral or rubble on seaward reefs. Juveniles are occasionally recorded in waters as shallow as 5 meters. It is a benthopelagic species feeding on algae and detritus. They may live in small social groups, harems with a single male and up to 8 females. They are protogynous hermaphrodites; if no male is present, the dominant female will change sex.
Spawning takes place between December and May, usually around nightfall. A spawning pair selects a high outcropping of rock in their territory. The male initiates courtship with a vertical, sinuous swimming motion, then moves above the female, raises his dorsal and anal fins, flutters his pectoral fins, and drifts slowly. If the female does not respond, he repeats. When ready to mate, red colouration becomes more intense and the pair makes audible grunts and clicks. The male draws the female to the selected outcropping, and after the female releases eggs, the male releases milt; both then dive for cover, with the female chasing the male and nipping his caudal fin.
Reader's Guide
Centropyge potteri was first formally described in 1912 by American ichthyologists David Starr Jordan and Charles William Metz, with the type locality given as Honolulu on Oahu. The specific name honors Frederick A. Potter, the first director of the Waikiki Aquarium, who held the post from 1904 to 1940. Some authorities place this species in the subgenus Centropyge. The species appears in the aquarium trade, indicating its significance to marine hobbyists. Its restricted distribution to the central Pacific Ocean, particularly the Hawaiian Islands and Johnston Atoll, and its distinctive color morph at depths below 60 meters, contribute to its biological and ecological interest. The detailed description of its courtship and spawning behavior, including audible grunts and clicks, provides insight into the reproductive strategies of marine angelfish. The species' protogynous hermaphroditism and harem social structure are notable aspects of its life history.
Did You Know?
- Centropyge potteri has a deep-water color morph with black or purple stripes that occurs below 60 meters.
- Spawning occurs between December and May, usually around nightfall, and the pair makes audible grunts and clicks.
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