Centropyge narcosis

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 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.

Narc angelfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Centropyge
Species:
C. narcosis
Binomial name
Centropyge narcosis
Pyle & Randall, 1993

Description

Centropyge 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

Centropyge narcosis is endemic to the Cook Islands where it has been only recorded from the waters around Rarotonga.[1]

Habitat and biology

Centropyge 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

Centropyge 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

Centropyge narcosis is very rare in the aquarium trade and commands high prices when it does come up for sale.[1]


References
  1. Pyle, R. & Myers, R. (2010). "Centropyge narcosis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T165903A6161805. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165903A6161805.en. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  2. "Centropyge narcosis". Saltcorner!. Bob Goemans. 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  3. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Centropyge narcosis" in FishBase. December 2019 version.
  4. Kevin Kohen (19 January 2013). "Rapture of the Deep – The elusive Narcosis Angelfish". reefbuilders.com. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
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