Blacktail Angelfish Centropyge eibli

The Blacktail Angelfish, also called the Red Stripe or Orangelined, is native to tropical reefs of the Indian Ocean through to the western Pacific. Adults reach some 15cm long.

Like others of its genus, groups are all female with one dominant male. The senior female will transition to male if the male dies or leaves. They have also been recorded to hybridise in the wild with other species in their genus.

Juveniles of the Indian Ocean Mimic Surgeonfish, Acanthurus tristis, which covers the same range, look similar to the Blacktail Angelfish to trick predators into thinking they are the quick, agile angelfish to avoid being targets.