TaiBNET

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Pomacanthidae
Genus Chaetodontoplus
Chaetodontoplus melanosoma (Bleeker, 1853)

Provider:

Kwang-Tsao Shao

Synonyms：

Holacanthus melanosoma

Citation:

臺灣魚類誌(沈等, 1993)

Character:

Body oval, deep, strongly compressed. Preorbital bone convex and without strong spines. 1 prominent spines at angle of preopercle. Ventral edge of interopercle serrated. Eye moderately small. Mouth small, terminal, protractile, gape not extending to anterior rim or orbit.Scale on middle of body with focus before or just on anterior margin of exposed portion. Dorsal fin with XIII spines and 17-18 soft rays; anal fin with III spines and 18 soft rays; caudal fin rounded to slightly emarginate. Overall black to dark brown on body; yellowish brown on head and with numerous yellowish orange spots on forehead; dorsal and anal fins with narrrow yellow margin; caudal fin yellow.

Habitat:

An uncommon species that inhabits coastal reefs and drop-offs that are exposed to strong tidal currents at depths of 5 to 25 m. Juveniles on deep rubble slopes with rich invertebrate growth. Feeds on sponges and tunicates. Solitary or in pairs.

Distribution:

Distributed from the Indo-Malayan region and New Guinea northward to southern Japan. It is very rare and only found in northern Taiwanese waters.

Utility:

Marine aquarium fish.

Name Code:

382294

IUCN Red List:LC

Marine