Tropical reef fish
Identity card
Western Indian Ocean.
From 6 to 40 metres.
Max. 8 cm.
Invertebrates and algae.
This fish reproduces at sunset. It nibbles the female's abdomen to stimulate the release of eggs.
These are released and abandoned in open water without any particular parental care.
The species is found in the western Indian Ocean. It is encountered from the east and south coasts of Africa to the Maldives, as well as in the Mozambique Channel, Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands and the Chagos Archipelago.
It is found on coral reefs and sometimes among branches or pieces of coral in areas with heavy algae growth.
The head, upper side, dorsal and caudal fins are orange-yellow in colour, while the lower part of its body and anal fin are midnight blue with numerous closely spaced purple spots. Adult males are larger than females.
Species of the genus Centropyge are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning that females can become males depending on the social structure of the group. This species functions as a harem around a dominant male, sexually mature females – the largest of which is the dominant female – and a few immature females.
Rival males fight each other at the edge of their territory.
There are no specific conservation measures for this species.
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