Yellow-ear angelfish (Apolemichthys xanthotis)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Apolemichthys xanthotis · Authority: (Fraser-Brunner, 1950) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 211791.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Holacanthus xanthotis Fraser-Brunner, 1950.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211791 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 20 cm · Depth range: 10–35 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 14.4 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabits coral-rich areas (Ref. 9710). Often in pairs or small groups (Ref. 9710). Probably feeds on algae, sponges, and benthic invertebrates (Ref. 9710). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 9710.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10940) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Apolemichthys-xanthotis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

58 georeferenced occurrence records for Apolemichthys xanthotis are published through GBIF from 9 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 20 distinct locations from a sample of 58 records, omitting 6 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Israel (15); Egypt (13); Somalia (12); Oman (8); Djibouti (3); Jordan (3); Yemen (2); Kenya (1); Saudi Arabia (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Eritrean Exclusive Economic Zone; Somali Exclusive Economic Zone; Red Sea; Djiboutian Exclusive Economic Zone; Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Western Indian Ocean.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396566) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396566&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=211791 (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 xanthotis (Fraser-Brunner, 1950) 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 165853) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165853/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396566) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396566/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Apolemichthys xanthotis has a largely white coloured body with a black head, a yellow tail. The dorsal and anal fins are black with white margins.

and over the first few scale rows on the body. This contrasts with the yellow spot on the upper preoperculum. The juveniles have a wide black band running over the eye and an oblique are of black on the back, this patch fades as the fish matures. This species attains a maximum total length of 20 cm.

Apolemichthys xanthotis is found in the northwestern Indian Ocean in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. It is also found off Socotra and a transient population was discovered off Kenya following the El Nino of 1998.

Apolemichthys xanthotis lives at depths between 10 and 80 m in areas that are rich in coral, as well as on rocky reefs. It is typically encountered in pairs or small groups and probably feeds on algae and benthic invertebrates, especially sponges.

Apolemichthys xanthotis was first formally described in 1950 as Holacanthus xanthotis by the British ichthyologist Alec Fraser-Bruner (1906–1986) with the type locality given as Al-Mukalla on the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Its specific name xanthotis means "yellow ear" and refers to the yellow spot on the upper preoperculum. Within the genus Apolemichthys this species seems to be more closely related to A. griffisi of the Western Pacific Ocean and the allopatric A. xanthurus of the Indian Ocean.

Apolemichthys xanthotis is uncommon in the aquarium trade. This is despite being considered to be a beautiful, hardy and easily maintained species.

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