About Centropyge tibicen (Cuvier, 1831)
Centropyge tibicen is primarily black in color. Adults have an elongated vertical black blotch in the center of their upper flanks. Juvenile and smaller individuals are also mainly black, with a white vertical bar that develops into a central blotch that varies widely in shape and size. A blue line runs just inside the outer margin of the dorsal and anal fins. Most of the pelvic fins and the front portion of the anal fin are yellow. The caudal fin has a blue line positioned just inside its outer margin. The dorsal fin holds 14 spines and 15 to 16 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 16 to 17 soft rays. This species reaches a maximum total length of 19 centimeters (7.5 inches).
Centropyge tibicen occurs in the Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from the northwestern coast of Australia and Christmas Island, through the Indo-Australian Archipelago, east to Vanuatu and Tonga. It can also be found as far north as southern Japan and Taiwan, and south to Lord Howe Island.
This species lives at depths between 4 and 35 meters (13 and 115 feet). It is an uncommon species found in areas with a mix of coral and rubble, on both lagoon and seaward reefs. It is herbivorous, with algae making up most of its diet. It lives in harems of 3 to 7 individuals. This species is capable of changing sex from female to male: if no male is present in a harem, one of the females will change sex.
