The Chrysurus Angelfish (Pomacanthus chrysurus), also known as the Goldtail Angelfish or Earspot Angelfish, is a species of marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It was first formally described in 1831 by the French anatomist Georges Cuvier. The specific name chrysurus is a compound of chrysis meaning ‘gold’ and urus meaning ‘tail,’ referring to the yellow caudal fin. The Chrysurus Angelfish

Distribution and Habitat

is found in the western Indian Ocean, from the Gulf of Aden south along the coast of Eastern Africa as far as KwaZulu-Natal. Its range includes Madagascar, the Comoro Islands, and the Seychelles. It inhabits shallow reefs with rich coral growth or rocky reefs at depths between 1 and 30 meters. The Chrysurus Angelfish shows more similarities between adults and juveniles than most other marine angelfishes in the genus Pomacanthus.

Physical Description

Juveniles have blackish-brown bodies marked with many white vertical bars. The face is paler, more orange than the body, and marked with uneven blue lines. Both juveniles and adults have a distinctive black spot on the upper anterior portion of the body. Adults are similar to juveniles but have a darker face. The dorsal fin has 13-14 spines and 17-19 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 18-19 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 33 cm (13 in). Adults feed primarily on sponges, tunicates, crustaceans, and zooplankton, while juveniles consume large quantities of algae.

Aquarium Care

The Chrysurus Angelfish requires a tank of at least 150 gallons. Most commercially available specimens originate from Kenya.

Conservation Status

Classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.