Griffis angelfish (Apolemichthys griffisi)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Pomacanthidae · Genus: Apolemichthys.

Accepted name: Apolemichthys griffisi · Authority: (Carlson & Taylor, 1981) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 277565.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Holacanthus griffisi Carlson & Taylor, 1981.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277565 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Apolemichthys griffisi. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 30 cm · Depth range: 10–110 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 20 of 100.

FishBase notes: Found in outer reef slopes and steep drop-offs. Solitary or in pairs or small groups; uncommon to rare (Ref. 9710).

Feeds on sponges and tunicates. Rarely exported through the aquarium trade (Ref. 48391). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 8772) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Apolemichthys-griffisi.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

150 georeferenced occurrence records for Apolemichthys griffisi are published through GBIF from 5 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 11 distinct locations from a sample of 150 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States Minor Outlying Islands (144); Kiribati (2); Marshall Islands (2); Cook Islands (1); Nauru (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396559) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396559&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=277565 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Apolemichthys griffisi (Carlson & Taylor, 1981) as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 165822) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165822/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396559) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396559/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Apolemichthys griffisi has a rather greyish white or ash coloured body with a wide. black band extending from the head as far as the ventral part of the caudal peduncle, within this lies a contrasting white band. There is a large black spot on the head above the eye. The dorsal fin is largely black and the anal and pelvic fins are white.

The juveniles lack the white stripe within the black band. The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 18 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 30 cm.

Distribution

Apolemichthys griffisi has a wide distribution which extends from Southeast Asia east to the Line Islands, where it has been recorded with certainty from Kiribati and maybe the US Islands. The distribution is known to include Indonesia, Kiribati, Nauru, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Habitat & biology

Apolemichthys griffisi is a species of the outer coral reef slopes, rocky ledges and drop-offs. It is normally recorded as solitary individuals, pairs or in small aggregations. It is found at depths of 10 to 100 m. it feeds on benthic invertebrates such as sponges, tunicates and crustaceans. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite and there is no sexual dimorphism.

Systematics

Apolemichthys griffisi Was first formally described in 1981 as Holacanthus griffisi by Bruce Carlson and Leigthon R. Taylor with the type locality given as Canton Island one of the northern Phoenix Islands in the South Pacific.

Its specific name honours Nixon Griffis (1917–1993), a conservationist who was trustee of the New York Zoological Society and a patron of the New York Aquarium, and supported the Carlson and Taylor's collecting trip to Canton Island on which this species was discovered. Within the genus Apolemichthys this species seems to be more closely related to A. xanthotis and A. xanthurus of the Indian Ocean.

Utilisation

Apolemichthys griffisi is apparently rare in the aquarium trade (is reported to be rarely exported through the aquarium trade). Most of the specimens in the trade are collected from Kiritimati, Kiribati. It is reported to be one of the most expensive fishes in the trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Apolemichthys griffisi — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apolemichthys_griffisi (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.