This striking, yet unknown Centropyge hybrid shown above recently landed in Japan under the care of marine specialist B-Box. The genetic input on this fish is not completely known, but we believe the fish is a hybrid of Centropyge bispinosa x Centropyge ferrugata. In Japan, Coral Beauty’s (C. bispinosa) go by the name Ruriyakko, as [...]
This striking, yet unknown Centropyge hybrid shown above recently landed in Japan under the care of marine specialist B-Box. The genetic input on this fish is not completely known, but we believe the fish is a hybrid of Centropyge bispinosa x Centropyge ferrugata. In Japan, Coral Beauty’s (C. bispinosa) go by the name Ruriyakko, as such this has been dubbed the Ruriyakko Mystery Fish. This individual likely came from the Philippines (Cebu), but we have yet to confirm its collection point.
Thanks to the investigative work of John Coppolino, we’ve recently found that Centropyge shepardi at some point likely resulted from C. ferrugata hybridizing, intentionally or not, with C. loricula. The resulting hybrid is indistinguishable from C. shepardi from Guam. Point being, Centropyge share extremely similar genetic make up and this fish could have input from any of the three aformentioned species. Without extensive DNA analysis we cannot be certain–then again that may not even be enough. It has been found that the drastically different looking Centropyge argi, Centropyge resplendens and Centropyge aurantonotus are all indistinguishable by standard DNA testing.
Editor’s note: color temperature was shifted towards blue to remove yellow tone of nitro medication.
It is certainly a unique fish. While we have our hunches, we may never really know “what” it is. For more information on Centropyge DNA analysis see:
Bowen, BW. Shallow mtDNA coalescence in Atlantic pygmy angelfishes (genus Centropyge) indicates a recent invasion from the Indian Ocean. Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Journal of Heredity. Jan-Feb;97(1):1-12. Epub 2006 Jan 4.
