Red Sea Angelfish

Apolemichthys xanthotis, commonly referred to as the yellow-ear angelfish or 🌊 Red Sea angelfish, is a species within the marine angelfish family, Pomacanthidae. This species features a predominantly white body, accented by a distinctly black head and a yellow tail. Its dorsal and anal fins are black with white edging. Notably, the black coloration on the head of Apolemichthys xanthotis extends across the gill cover and over the initial scale rows of the body, more extensively than in its closely related counterparts. This feature contrasts with the characteristic yellow spot located on the upper preoperculum. Juvenile specimens exhibit a wide black band over the eye and an oblique black area on the back, which diminishes with maturity. The maximum recorded total length for this species is 20 centimeters (7.9 inches).

Apolemichthys xanthotis is indigenous to the northwestern 🌊 Indian Ocean, specifically the 🌊 Red Sea, 🌊 Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the 🌊 Persian Gulf. It is also present off the coast of Socotra (🇾🇪 Yemen), with a transient population identified off 🇰🇪 Kenya subsequent to the El Niño event of 1998.

This species inhabits depths ranging from 10 to 80 meters (33 to 262 feet) and is typically found in coral-rich areas and rocky reefs. It is generally observed in pairs or small groups and likely feeds on algae and benthic invertebrates, particularly sponges.

First formally described in 1950 as Holacanthus xanthotis by British ichthyologist Alec Fraser-Bruner, this species was identified with the type locality being Al-Mukalla on the 🌊 Red Sea coast of 🇾🇪 Yemen. The specific name "xanthotis," meaning “yellow ear,” refers to the yellow spot on the upper preoperculum. Within the genus Apolemichthys, A. xanthotis shows a closer relation to A. griffisi of the Western 🌊 Pacific Ocean and the allopatric A. xanthurus of the 🌊 Indian Ocean.

Despite being regarded as beautiful, hardy, and easily maintained, Apolemichthys xanthotis remains uncommon within the aquarium trade.