Animal Species:Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus meredithi (Kuiter, 1990)

As its standard name implies, the Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish has a yellow caudal fin. The species is endemic to Australia.

Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish at Wolf Rock

Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish at Wolf Rock
Dave Harasti © Dave Harasti

Alternative Name/s

Meredith's Angelfish, Yellowtail Angelfish,Yellow-finned Angelfish

Identification

The Queensland 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 Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish has a stout preopercular spine.

Size range

The Yellowtail Angelfish grows to 25 cm in length.

Distribution

The 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.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Chaetodontoplus meredithi

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
meredithi
Genus:
Chaetodontoplus
Family:
Pomacanthidae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R., Steene, R. & M. Allen. 1998. A Guide to Angelfishes & Butterflyfishes. Odyssey Publishing/Tropical Reef Research. Pp. 250.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  5. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
  6. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Queensland Yellowtail Angelfish, Chaetodontoplus meredithi, black, yellow, blue, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, bands, tropical, marine, adult,