Centropyge narcosis, the narc angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is native to the Cook Islands. It is found at a depth range of 100m - 128m. This species is more expensive than the well known peppermint angelfish in the aquarium trade.
| Centropyge narcosis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Acanthuriformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Centropyge |
| Species: | C. narcosis
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| Binomial name | |
| Centropyge narcosis | |
Description
editCentropyge narcosis is vivid yellow over the whole of its body and fins broken only by a large black blotch in the middle of the upper flank.[2] This is a small species which attains a maximum total length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in).[3]
Distribution
editCentropyge narcosis is endemic to the Cook Islands where it has been only recorded from the waters around Rarotonga.[1]
Habitat and biology
editCentropyge narcosis is found at depths between 100 and 120 metres (330 and 390 ft).[1] It is normally found in pairs or small groups in caves and in cracks on steep drop offs. It is a little known species and its natural diet is a mystery but in captivity it will eat a variety of foods.[3] This species usually swims “upside down”, swimming with its head down and its underside very close to the substrate. When it perceives a threat, it will adopt a head down position, erect the spines in its dorsal fin and use the spots on its flanks to impersonate a large predatory fish.[4]
Systematics
editCentropyge narcosis was first formally described in 1993 by Richard Pyle and John Ernest Randall (1924-2020).[5] The specific name, narcosis, refers to the extreme effects of nitrogen narcosis that the Richard Pyle and Charles “Chip” Boyle suffered when they collected the holotype at a depth greater than 100 metres (330 ft) while using conventional SCUBA equipment. Some authorities place this species in the subgenus Centropyge.[6]
Utlisation
editCentropyge narcosis is very rare in the aquarium trade and commands high prices when it does come up for sale.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Pyle, R.; Myers, R.F. (2010). "Centropyge narcosis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165903A6161805. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165903A6161805.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Centropyge narcosis". Saltcorner!. Bob Goemans. 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Centropyge narcosis". FishBase. December 2019 version.
- ^ Kevin Kohen (19 January 2013). "Rapture of the Deep – The elusive Narcosis Angelfish". reefbuilders.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Centropyge". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (21 July 2020). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 1): Families LOBOTIDAE, POMACANTHIDAE, DREPANEIDAE and CHAETODONTIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 29 January 2021.