Genicanthus is a genus of marine angelfishes in the family Pomacanthidae. Known commonly as swallowtail or lyretail angelfish, these fishes are so-named for the distinctive shape of their tailfins. This genus of angels, in comparison to the other species found in hobby aquaria, are a good choice for beginners as they do not get nearly as large as some of the others. Another unique attribute is that swallowtail angels will tolerate each other and can be kept in pairs or as a single male with a harem, though it is typically best to add them to a tank at the same time. If added on by one, the angel which is added first may become aggressively territorial towards any new additions. Unlike others in the family Pomocanthidae, the angelfish species in the genus Genicanthus are generally considered to be reef safe.[2] Also unlike most other members of the Pomacanthidae, those in Genicanthus are sexually dimorphic, meaning males and females are easily distinguishable. Fish in this species possess a small mouth relative to its size. This small mouth is well adapted for feeding on plankton in the water column. As planktivores, members of Genicanthus generally will not nip corals and sessile invertebrates.
The name of this genus means “thorn cheek”, a reference to the spines on the rear margin of the operculum, a feature common to all angelfish.[3]
^ abEschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Pomacanthidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
^Reefkeeping.com
^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 13 February 2021.
the genus Genicanthus are generally considered to be reef safe. Also unlike most other members of the Pomacanthidae, those in Genicanthus are sexually...
on the tail. Genicanthus caudovittatus occasionally appears in the aquarium trade. Pyle, R.; Myers, R.F.; Craig, M.T. (2010). "Genicanthus caudovittatus"...
only known to hybridise with the blackstriped angelfish (Genicanthus lamarck). Genicanthus bellus is very infrequent and fetches high prices in the aquarium...
centimetres (8.3 in). Genicanthus personatus is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, here it is more numerous in the northwestern islands. Genicanthus personatus is...
found in the northwestern Pacific Ocean Genicanthus takeuchii, like the other angelfishes in the genus Genicanthus, shows sexual dichromatism, the males...
This species is known to hybridise with the ornate angelfish (Genicanthus bellus). Genicanthus lamarck is frequently found in the aquarium trade. It is also...
Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Pacific Ocean. Genicanthus watanabei, like the other angelfishes in the genus Genicanthus, shows sexual dichromatism, the males...
spot on the male's chest. Genicanthus melanospilos is common in the aquarium trade. Pyle, R.; Myers, R.F. (2010). "Genicanthus melanospilos". IUCN Red List...
Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Genicanthus semifasciatus" in FishBase. December 2019 version. "Genicanthus semifasciatus". Saltcorner!. Bob Goemans...
maintain. Feeding habits can be strictly defined through genus, with Genicanthus species feeding on zooplankton and Centropyge preferring filamentous...
Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2019). "Genicanthus spinus" in FishBase. December 2019 version. "Genicanthus spinus". Saltcorner!. Bob Goemans. 2012....
found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. Genicanthus semicinctus like the other angelfishes in the genus Genicanthus, shows sexual dichromatism, the males...
The reef waters support large numbers of fish. The masked angelfish (Genicanthus personatus), endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, is relatively common there...
Black-spot angelfish Genicanthus melanospilos (Bleeker, 1857) (Queensland to Fiji and north to the Ryukyu Islands) Watanabe's angelfish Genicanthus watanabei (Yasuda...
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