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Yellowtail Angelfish
Chaetodontoplus meredithi Kuiter, 1990
Above and below: Two Yellowtail Angelfish at a depth of 10 m, Wolf Rock, off Rainbow Beach, Queensland, August 2004. View larger image. Photo: David Harasti.
An 8 cm long Yellowtail Angelfish at a depth of 12 m, Fly Point Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, New South Wales, March 2004. View larger image.
The Yellowtail Angelfish can be recognised by its colouration. Its head is blue with yellow spots. Juveniles have a white band behind the head that darkens as the fish grows. The nape, breast and caudal fin are yellow. The body is black.
Like all angelfishes, the Yellowtail Angelfish has a stout preopercular spine.
The Yellowtail Angelfish grows to 25 cm in length.
This species is endemic to Australia. It occurs in tropical and warm temperate marine waters from northern Queensland to the central coast of New South Wales. It is also known from Lord Howe Island.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
The Yellowtail Angelfish is also known as Meredith's Angelfish, Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish and Yellow-finned Angelfish.
Related links
- Ballina Angelfish fact sheet
- Conspicuous Angelfish fact sheet
- Vermiculated Angelfish fact sheet
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
