Synopsis
Although hybridization of terrestrial and freshwater organisms has been well-studied, very little work has focused on hybridization among coral reef fish species. In the present paper, eleven examples of probable hybrids between marine angelfishes (Pomacanthidae) are reviewed. Evidence is presented which strongly suggests that the nominal speciesApolemichthys armitagei is invalid and that specimens previously identified as this species represent hybrids betweenA. trimaculatus andA. xanthurus. Of the remaining ten probable pomacanthid hybrids, five are inCentropyge (C. eibli x C. flavissimus, C. eibli x C. vrolikii, C. flavissimus x C. vrolikii, C. loricu0lus x C. potteri, andC. multifasciatus x C. venustus); one inHolacanthus (H. bermudensis x H. ciliaris), and four inPomacanthus (P. arcuatus x P. paru, P. chrysurus x P. maculosus, P. maculosus x P. semicirculatus, andP. sexstriatus x P. xanthometapon). An additional five examples of possible pomacanthid hybrids are described, two inCentropyge, two inChaetodontoplus and one inPomacanthus. Examination of hybrids may provide clues on reproductive behavior, dispersal capabilities, and phylogenetic relationships of species. More studies on hybridization in coral reef fish species, particularly those involving molecular techniques, are needed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Allen, G.R. 1979. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Volume 2. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 149–352 pp.
Allen, G.R. 1986. Appendix butterfly and angelfishes of the world — vol. 2. Mergus Publishers Hans A. Baensch, Melle. 7 pp.
Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1979. The fishes of Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Australian Government Publishing service, Canberra. 81 pp.
Anon. 1989. Message of explanation from newly arrived fish. Trop. Mar. Aquar. 25 (Summer 1989):48–49. (In Japanese).
Bailey, R.M., J.E. Fitch, E.S. Herald, E.A. Lachner, C.C. Lindsey, C.R. Robins & W.B. Scott. 1970. A list of common and scientific names of fishes from the United States and Canada (third edition). Spec. Publ. Amer. Fish. Soc. 6:1–150.
Barton, N.H. & K.S. Gale. 1993. Genetic analysis of hybrid zones. pp. 13–45.In.: R.G. Harrison (ed.) Hybrid zones and the evolutionary process, Oxford University Press, New York.
Burgess, W.E. 1974. Une forme atypique deChaetodon de Cey-Ian. Rev. fr. Aquariol. 2: 37–40.
Burgess, W.E. 1978. Butterflyfishes of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 832 pp.
Burgess, W.E. 1991. Two new genera of angelfishes, family Pomacanthidae. Trop. Fish Hobbyist, 39 7: 68–70.
Clavijo, I.E. 1985. A probable hybrid butterflyfish from the western Atlantic. Copeia 1985: 235–238.
Condé, B. 1990. Elevage et évolution d'un hybride présumé; entrePomacanthops maculosus etP. semicirculatus (Perciformes, Pomacanthidae). Rev. fr. Aquariol. 16 4: 117–122.
Debelius, H. 1993. Indian Ocean tropical fish guide. Aquaprint, Neu Isenberg. 321 pp.
Dinesh, K.R., T.M. Lim, K.L. Chua, W.K. Chan & V.P.E. Phang. 1993. RAPD analysis: an efficient method of DNA fingerprinting in fishes. Zool. Sci. 10: 849–854.
Feddern, H.A. 1968. Hybridization between the western Atlantic angelfishes,Holacanthus isabelita andH. ciliaris. Bull. Mar. Sci. 18: 351–382.
Grant, P.R. & B.R. Grant. 1992. Hybridization of bird species. Science 256: 193–197.
Harrison, R.G.brid zones and the evolutionary process. Oxford University Press, New York. 364 pp.
Heemstra, P.C. 1984.Apolemichthys kingi, a new species of angelfish (Pomacanthidae) from South Africa, with comments on the classification of angelfishes and a checklist of the pomacanthids of the western Indian Ocean. Spec. Publ. J.L.B. Smith Inst. Ichth. 35: 1–17.
Hubbs, C.L. 1961. Isolating mechanisms in the speciation of fishes. Univ. of Texas Symp. Vertebrate Speciation: 5–23.
Kosaki, R.K. & D. Toyama. 1987. Gold morphs inCentropyge angelfish. Freshwater Mar. Aquar. 10 7: 8–11.
Kosaki, R.K., R.L. Pyle, J.E. Randall & D.K. Irons. 1991. New records of fishes from Johnston Atoll, with notes on biogeography. Pac. Sci. 45: 186–203.
Krupp, F. & H. Debelius. 1990. The hybrid ofCentropyge multifasciatus x Holacanthus venustus from the Philippines and notes on aberrant colour forms ofCentropyge multispinis from the Maldives and the Red Sea. Rev. fr. Aquariol. 17 2: 53–56.
Kuiter, R.H. 1992. Tropical reef-fishes of the western Pacific, Indonesia, and adjacent waters. Garmedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta. 314 pp.
Longley, W H. & S.F. Hildebrand. 1941. Systematic catalogue of the fishes of Tortugas, Florida. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Publ. 535. 331 pp.
Lutnesky, M.M.F. 1992a. Behavioral ecology of reproduction in the pomacanthid angelfishCentropyge potteri. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 155 pp.
Lutnesky, M.M.F 1992b. A temporal-threshold model of polygynous mating in cyclical environments. Amer. Nat. 139: 1102–1115.
Lutnesky, M.M.F. 1994. Density-dependant protogynous sex change in territorial-haremic fishes: models and evidence. Behavioral Ecology (in press).
Masuda, H., K. Amaoka, C. Araga, T. Uyeno & T. YoshinoUniversity Press, Tokyo. 437 pp.
Maugé, L.A. & J.E. Randall. 1979. A propos d'une forme aberrante dePygoplites diacanthus (Boddaert,1772) Pisces: Pomacanthidae. Rev. fr. Aquariol. 6 4: 97–100.
Meyer, K.A. 1977. Reproductive behavior and patterns of sexuality in the Japanese labrid fishThalassoma cupido. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 24: 101–112.
Moe, M.A., Jr. 1976. Rearing Atlantic angelfish. Mar Aquarist 7 7: 17–26.
Moe, M.A. 1990. The invisible nursery. Sea Frontiers 36 3: 28.
Moyer, J.T. 1981. Interspecific spawning of the pygmy angelfishesCentropyge shepardi andC. bispinosus at Guam. Micronesica 12 1–2: 119–124.
Moyer, J.T. 1989. On the blinding nature of experience: how many species of pygmy angelfishes are there? Trop. Fish Hobbyist 37 7: 86–96.
Moyer, J.T. 1990. Social and reproductive behavior ofChaetodontoplus mesoleucus (Pomacanthidae) at Bantayan Island, Philippines, with notes on pomacanthid relationships. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 36: 459–467.
Moyer, J.T. & A. Nakazono. 1978. Population structure, reproductive behavior, and protogynous hermaphroditism in the angelfishCentropyge interruptus at Miyake-jima, Japan. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 25: 25–39.
Myers, R.F. 1989. Micronesian reef fishes. Coral Graphics, GMF, Guam. 298 pp.
Nichols, J.T. & L.L. Mowbray. 1914. A new angel-fish (Angelichthys townsendi) from Key West. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 33 37: 581–583.
Pyle, R.L. 1989. Rare and unusual marines: the armitage angelfishApolemichthys armitagei Smith. Freshwater Mar. Aquar. 12 4: 26–27.
Pyle, R.L. 1992a. Rare and unusual marines: a hybrid angelfishCentropyge flavissimus x eibli. Freshwater Mar. Aquar. 15 3: 98–110, 212.
Pyle, R.L. 1992b. Rare and unusual marines: another hybrid angelfishCentropygeloriculus x potteri Freshwater Mar. Aquar. 15 8: 40–45.
Pyle, R.L. & J.E. Randall. 1993. A new species ofCentropyge from the Cook Islands, with a redescription ofCentropyge boylei. Rev. fr. Aquariol. 19 4: 115–124.
Randall, J.E. 1956.Acanthurus rackliffei, a possible hybrid surgeonfish (A. achilles x A. glaucopareius) from the Phoenix Islands. Copeia 1956: 21–25.
Randall, J.E. 1992. Divers guide to fishes of Maldives. IMMEL Publishing, London. 193 pp.
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen & R.C. Steene. 1977. Five probable hybrid butterflyfishes of the genusChaetodon from the central and western Pacific. Rec. West. Austral. Mus. 6: 3–26.
Randall, J.E. & R.C. Anderson. 1993. Annotated checklist of the epipelagic and shore fishes of the Maldive Islands. J.L.B. Smith Inst. Ichthyol. Bull. 59: 1–47.
Randall, J.E. & D. Fridman. 1981.Chaetodon auriga x Chaetodon fasciatus, a hybrid butterflyfish from the Red Sea. Rev. fr. Aquariol. 7 4: 113–116.
Randall, J.E., P.S. Lobel & E.H. Chave. 1985. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Johnston Atoll. Pac. Sci. 39: 24–80.
Randall, J.E. & L.A. Maugé. 1978.Holacanthus guezei, a new angelfish from Réunion. Bull. Mus. natn. Hist nat. Paris. 353 514: 297–303.
Randall, J.E. & F. Yasuda. 1979.Centropyge shepardi, a new angelfish from the Mariana and Ogasawara Islands. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 26: 55–61.
Reese, E.S. 1975. A comparative field study of the social behaviour and related ecology of reef fishes of the family Chaetodontidae. Z. Tierpsychol. 37: 37–61.
Robins, C.R., G.C. Ray & J. Douglass. 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. 354 pp.
Sano, M., K. Okuzawa, T. Yamakawa & K. Mochizuki. 1984. A probable hybrid butterflyfish of the genusChaetodon from the Ogasawara Islands. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 31: 79–82.
Schwartz, F.J. 1972. World literature to hybrids, with analysis by family, species, and hybrid. Publ. Gulf Coast Res. Lab. Mus. 3: 1–328.
Shirai, S. 1986. Ecological encyclopedia of the marina animals of the Indo-Pacific, Vol. 1: Vertebrata. Shin Nippon Kyoiku, Tosho Co., Okinawa. 352 pp.
Slastenenko, E.P. 1957. A list of natural fish hybrids of the world. Hidrobiologi, ser. B, 4 2–3: 76–97.
Smith, J.L.B. 1955. The fishes of the family Pomacanthidae in the western Indian Ocean. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. 8 12: 377–384.
Steene, R.C. 1978. Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Volume 1. A.H. & A.W Reed Pty Ltd, Sydney. 144 pp.
Takeshita, G.Y. 1976. An angel hybrid. Mar. Aquarist 7 1: 27–35.
Takeuchi, K. 1984. Paradise of the Indian Ocean: diving in the Maldives Archipelago. Trop. Mar. Aquar. 11 Winter 1985: 311. (In Japanese).
Thresher, R.E. 1984. Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 399 pp.
Trivers, R.L. 1972. Parental investment and sexual selection. pp. 136–179.In: B. Campbell (ed.) Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man, 1871–1971. Adine-Atherton, Chicago.
Wedge, J.M. 1984. The mating game. Sea Frontiers 30 5: 308–311.
Yasuda, F. & Y. Tominaga. 1976. A new pomacanthid fish,Chaetodontoplus caeruleopunctatus, from the Philippines. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 23: 130–132.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pyle, R.L., Randall, J.E. A review of hybridization in marine angelfishes (Perciformes: Pomacanthidae). Environ Biol Fish 41, 127–145 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02197841
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02197841