Pomacanthus asfur

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	PERCIFORMES	POMACANTHIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pomacanthus asfur

Species Authority:

(Forsskål, 1775)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Arabian Angelfish

Synonym/s:

Arusetta asfur (Forsskål, 1775)

Chaetodon asfur Forsskål, 1775

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	Pyle, R., Rocha, L.A. & Craig, M.T.
Reviewer/s:	Elfes, C., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. & Carpenter, K.E.
Contributor/s:
Justification: A common species with a relatively wide range and no apparent major threats. It is listed as Least Concern.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs in the western Indian Ocean, where it ranges from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, south to the island of Zanzibar (Tanzania) (Allen 1980, G.R. Allen pers. comm. 2006). It has been recorded between 3-30 m in depth.
Countries:	Native: Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Kenya; Saudi Arabia; Somalia; Sudan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Yemen Vagrant: Oman
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Indian Ocean – western
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	It is generally common with stable populations.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species is usually found along protected shallow shoreline reefs with a rich growth of hard and soft corals, often mixed with occasional areas of silty substrate. It is a solitary, relatively shy species, that is not easy to approach (G.R. Allen pers. comm. 2006). Usually observed near large crevices or caves on the reef, and seldom venture away from these refuges (Allen 1980). It feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates (G.R. Allen pers. comm. 2006).
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

This species is usually found along protected shallow shoreline reefs with a rich growth of hard and soft corals, often mixed with occasional areas of silty substrate. It is a solitary, relatively shy species, that is not easy to approach (G.R. Allen pers. comm. 2006). Usually observed near large crevices or caves on the reef, and seldom venture away from these refuges (Allen 1980). It feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates (G.R. Allen pers. comm. 2006).

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There appear to be no major threats to this species. Collection for the aquarium trade is limited to a few locations and does not seem to represent a global threat.

Major Threat(s):

There appear to be no major threats to this species. Collection for the aquarium trade is limited to a few locations and does not seem to represent a global threat.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no species-specific conservation measures in place. It is present within some marine protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place. It is present within some marine protected areas.

Citation:	Pyle, R., Rocha, L.A. & Craig, M.T. 2010. Pomacanthus asfur. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 June 2013.
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