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Colin's angelfish (Centropyge colini) — Pomacanthidae

Colin's angelfish

Centropyge colini
Family: Pomacanthidae

The Colin's angelfish (Centropyge colini) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacanthidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–110.0 m
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia and others

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Description

The Colin's angelfish is a dwarf angelfish (Pomacanthidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 9 cm. It has a yellow body with a blue band across the lower back and lives on deeper, shaded coral slopes. As a reef-dweller it grazes algae and bottom growth on coral and rocky reefs and bears a sharp spine on the gill cover. Like many angelfish it changes sex. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Colin's angelfish?

The Colin's angelfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly yellow-gold.

Where does the Colin's angelfish live?

The Colin's angelfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia and others

How big does the Colin's angelfish get?

The Colin's angelfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Colin's angelfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Colin's angelfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Colin's angelfish (Centropyge colini) — Pomacanthidae — 2
Yi-Kai Tea (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — AM
Colin's angelfish (Centropyge colini) — Pomacanthidae — 3
Fenton Walsh (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — AM
Colin's angelfish (Centropyge colini) — Pomacanthidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Damien Brouste, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Colin's angelfish (Centropyge colini) — Pomacanthidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) uwkwaj, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Colin's angelfish sourced
Scientific name
Centropyge colini
Family
Pomacanthidae
Other names
Colin's angelfish; Colin's pygmy angelfish; Cocos-Keeling angelfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
110.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Protogynous (female first) sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Centropyge

Blue-backed angelfish (Centropyge venusta) — Pomacanthidae
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 Lemon peel (Centropyge flavissima) — Pomacanthidae
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 Dusky angelfish (Centropyge multispinis) — Pomacanthidae
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 Cherub pygmy angelfish (Centropyge argi) — Pomacanthidae
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 Fisher's angelfish (Centropyge fisheri) — Pomacanthidae
Fisher's angelfish
Centropyge fisheri
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 Golden angelfish (Centropyge heraldi) — Pomacanthidae
Golden angelfish
Centropyge heraldi
Pomacanthidae

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