Centropyge eibli, the blacktail angelfish, red stripe angelfish, orangelined angelfish, or Eibl dwarf angel is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the familyPomacanthidae. It is found near reefs in the Indo-Pacific.
Description
Centropyge eibli is primarily greyish in colour and has thin, vertical wavy bars in rust along its flanks. Its eye is surrounded by an orange ring. The caudal peduncle and the caudal fin are black, with the rear margin of the caudal fin being bright blue. This pattern is similar to that of the juveniles of the Indian Ocean Mimic Surgeonfish Acanthurus tristis.[2] These surgeonfish mimic the small, agile angelfish to deter predators.[3] The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 15-17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in).[4]
Centropyge eibli is found at depths between 3 and 25 metres (9.8 and 82.0 ft).[1] It occurs in shallow areas which have dense growth of coral in lagoons, the Seward reefs and sometimes in channels with tidal currents. It is typically encountered in a small harems of a male and several females.[2] It feeds mainly on algae.[4] This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite and the dominant female in a harem will change sex to male if the male disappears.[5]
Centropyge eibli is sometimes found in the aquarium trade. The specimens which are exported to Europe and North America are mostly exported through Sri Lanka.[1]
