Paracentropyge multifasciata

Description

The barred angelfish or multibarred angelfish (Paracentropyge multifasciata) is a species of marine angelfish (family Pomacanthidae) of the order Perciformes. It is native to the Indo-Pacific, more specifically an area from the Cocos-Keeling Atoll to the Society Islands, ranging north to the Yaeyama Islands and south to the Great Barrier Reef. This species is the only member of its genus. P. multifasciata is a deeper-bodied species of dwarf angelfish. It has a white base color with eight black vertical bars that become yellowish ventrally and it grows to 12 cm SL. Juveniles possess fewer bars and have a distinctive ocellus on their dorsal fin that fades when they grow. It inhabits caves and crevices in outer reef slopes and can be found in depths between 20m and 70m. P. multifasciata feeds on algae, sponges, tunicates and other benthic invertebrates and small crustaceans and can often be seen foraging upside-down on cave ceilings. Paracentropyge multifasciata lives in harems with one dominant male and usually multiple females. Like all other angelfish it is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with all individuals being female initially and the dominant ones changing to males. Barred angelfish are broadcast spawners, releasing their gametes into the water column after an intense and lengthy mating ritual. They show no parental care. The larvae hatch after 16–18 hours from the small eggs (0.7mm in diameter). They have a pelagic phase of up to 50 days after which they become benthic and metamorphose into juveniles.