Rock Beauty, scientifically named Holacanthus tricolor, is a type of marine angelfish with ray-like fins belonging to the Pomacanthidae family.
It’s also known by various other names such as Corn Sugar, Coshubba, Rock Beasty, Catalineta, and Yellow Nanny.
This fish is found in the western Atlantic Ocean. Rock Beauty is typically found in areas with rock jetties, rocky reefs, and rich coral environments.
Younger fish are often seen near fire corals. Their diet includes tunicates, sponges, zoantharians (a type of coral), and algae.
These fish are caught and sold fresh in the market.
However, the rock beauty is not considered reef safe, meaning that if introduced into an aquarium environment, it can potentially harm coral reefs.
Rock Beauty Interesting Facts
- Rock beauty is a species of marine angelfish found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
- They can be found in rocky reefs, rich coral areas, and rock jetties.
- Young rock beauties are often associated with fire corals.
- Adult rock beauties feed on tunicates, sponges, zoantharians, and algae.
Rock Beauty Habitat
Rock Beauty is a marine angelfish found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Its habitat ranges from Georgia (USA), Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Santa Catarina, Brazil. This fish lives in reef environments and doesn’t migrate.
It can be found at depths between 3 and 92 meters (about 10 to 302 feet), but it’s usually found between 3 and 35 meters (10 to 115 feet).
Rock beauty thrives in tropical climates, specifically between latitudes 37°N and 29°S and longitudes 100°W and 28°W.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Rock Beauty Physical Characteristics
Size: Common Length: 11.8 inches (30.0 centimeters), Max Length: 13.8 inches (35.0 centimeters)
Rock beauty reaches maturity at a length of about 15.8 cm (around 6.2 inches), but the full range of mature lengths is not specified.
The maximum recorded length for this fish is 35 cm (about 13.8 inches) from tip to tail, while the common length is around 30 cm (about 11.8 inches).
This fish has 14 dorsal spines, 17 to 19 soft dorsal rays, 3 anal spines, and 18 to 20 soft anal rays.
The front part of its body is yellow, while the remaining parts of the body, the dorsal fin and the front of the anal fin, are black.
The caudal fin (tail fin) is entirely yellow.
Other distinct features include an orange front margin on the anal fin and edge of the gill cover, as well as bright blue on the upper and lower parts of the iris.
Young rock beauty fish, about an inch long, are mostly yellow with a blue-edged black spot on the upper side of their body toward the back.
As they grow, this black spot expands into a large black area that covers most of their body and dorsal and anal fins.
Rock Beauty Reproduction
The rock beauty fish is thought to exhibit protogyny, a type of gender change where individuals first mature as females and later change into males.
However, this characteristic is still awaiting confirmation through further research.
Rock Beauty Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Holacanthus |
| Scientific Name: | Holacanthus tricolor |
| Also Known As: | Rock Beauty, Corn Sugar, Coshubba, Rock Beasty, Catalineta, Yellow Nanny |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |