POMACANTHIDAE


Apolemichthys trimaculatus
(photo by Mark Strickland)



Apolemichthys trimaculatus
(photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin)


Apolemichthys trimaculatus
(Lacepède, 1831)
Threespot Angelfish

D XIV, 16-18; A III, 17-19; P1 17; LR 45-50; GR 5-6 + 13-14.

Body oblong, deep and compressed; posterior margin of preopercle finely serrate; a long spine at corner of preopercle; subopercle smooth. Soft portions of dorsal and anal fins round; caudal fin slightly rounded with upper and lower tips little prolonged. Color: overall bright yellow with a broad black band on edge of anal fin and a broad white zone above it; a white spot on forehead and an ocellated dark spot just behind head; lips blue. Size: maximum length about 20 cm. Distribution: Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Samoa. Remarks: inhabits outer reef slops and drop-offs at depths of 10-35 m. Found solitary, in pairs or in small groups. Feeds on sponges and tunicates.