Centropyge potteri
Potter's angel
(Also: Potter's angelfish; Potter's pygmy angelfish; Russet angelfish)

Centropyge potteri is endemic to the Hawaiian islands and Johnston's atoll between 30 and 17 degrees north latitude (Carlson, 2000).

C. potteri inhabits coral reef ecosystems at least 15 feet in depth (Gosline, 1960).

Individuals are orange with narrow, black, vertical stripes and a blue lining of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins. Unlike most other pygmy angelfish, Potter's angelfish has a preopercular spine (Gosline, 1960).

C. potteri is a protogynous species, which means that most individuals begin their lives as small females, and then change into males when they are large enough to control a harem of two to seven females and breeding territory for reproduction. This sex inversion takes place over two to three weeks (Lutnesky, 1996).

A single male maintains a harem in his territory and will fertilize the eggs of several females within a single spawning season.

Males must be large enough to control a harem and secure breeding rights, as this species is polygynous. Males visit haremic females near their reef and display courtship by swimming around the females in circles and then each individual simultaneously releases its gametes into the water, where fertilization occurs (Lutnesky and Kosaki, 1995).

Adult Potter's angelfish do not care for the eggs or fry.

C. potteri is a pygmy angelfish, and does not live as long as its larger relatives. The average lifespan for the Potter's angelfish is six years in the wild (Tinker, 1944).

C. potteri is a solitary species that only interacts with its consepcifics during courtship. It remains awake but inactive at night, and spends most of its time during the day foraging. Individuals are very territorial, and therefore remain close to their coral crevices. Perhaps the most interesting behavior of this species is its ability to change sex, as described in the development section above (Lutnesky and Kosaki, 1995).

Laboratory studies have detected a quiet chirping sound that is emitted during courtship; however its purpose is unclear (Lutnesky and Kosaki, 1995).

Individuals use their many comblike teeth to pull food items off of hard reef surfaces. Their diet consists of benthic algae, cnidarians, and tunicates (Carlson, 2000).

The main anti-predator strategy that the small angelfish uses is to hide within finger coral crevices and remain inactive at night. Its narrow body also allows for fast swimming and darting motions to escape predators (Carlson, 2000).

C. potteri is an integral part of the biodiversity of the reef ecosystem.

C. potteri adds to beauty of coral reefs, which are one of the main Hawaiian tourist attractions. This species is also kept as a pet (Carlson, 2000).

Potter's angelfish in no way harms humans, the environment, or the economy.

C. potteri is part of the already threatened coral reef ecosystems. Therefore, it is important to not take too many individuals for the pet trade.