Ballina angelfish (Chaetodontoplus ballinae)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodontoplus ballinae · Authority: Whitley, 1959 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 280113.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=280113 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Depth range: 100–120 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10.3 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: Inhabits rock reef (Ref. 75154).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10882) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodontoplus-ballinae.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

21 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodontoplus ballinae are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 6 distinct locations from a sample of 21 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (21).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396579) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396579&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=280113 (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 Chaetodontoplus ballinae Whitley, 1959 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 165847) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165847/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396579) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396579/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Chaetodontoplus ballinae Has a pearly-white body broken by a distinct black band which runs across the back and lower part of the dorsal fin, with the front part reaching down in a bar running over the base of the pectoral fin. The lips are black and there is a vertical dusky bar through the eye.

The anal fin, the upper half of dorsal fin and the pelvic fins are white. The eye, front few spines in the dorsal fin, the caudal fin and the pectoral fin are yellow. It attains a maximum length of 20 cm.

Distribution

Chaetodontoplus ballinae is endemic to the southwestern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Eastern Australia. It has been recorded from widely separated localities including Stradbroke Island in southern Queensland, in northern New South Wales at Coffs Harbour, Ballina, Evans Head, North Solitary Island and Seal Rocks. It also occurs around Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.

Habitat and biology

Chaetodontoplus ballinae is found in subtropical areas at depths between 15 and 120 m. It is found in deep coastal offshore reefs, as well as around sea mounts. They are relatively numerous in the vicinity of Balls Pyramid off Lord Howe Island.

Here they may be observed in deeper habitats where there are large boulders, rock piles, peaks, caves and crevices. Ball's Pyramid is almost the only place where the Ballina angelfish has been photographed. Little is known about the biology of the Ballina angelfish, although it has been recorded in pairs or as solitary fishes.

Systematics

Chaetodontoplus ballinae was first formally described in 1959 by the Australian ichthyologist Gilbert Percy Whitley (1903-1975), with the type locality given as off Ballina Bar in New South Wales. The type locality is reflected in the specific name, ballinae. The colour and patterning of the Ballina angelfish are unique within the genus Chaetodontoplus.

Conservation

Chaetodontoplus ballinae has been classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It does not appear in the aquarium trade as it has full legal protection in Australia. It is subject to some bycatch by fisheries.

Source: Wikipedia: Chaetodontoplus ballinae — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodontoplus_ballinae (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.