Threespot Angelfish

Apolemichthys trimaculatus is a bright yellow species of marine angelfish. It has blue lips, a wide black margin to the anal fin, a black spot on the forehead and a faint spot just to the rear of the operculum. Juveniles lack the spots and instead have a thin black band running vertically through the eye, as well as vertical golden bars on the flanks. The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 16-18 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-19 soft rays, and this species attains a maximum total length of 26 cm (10 in).

Apolemichthys trimaculatus is widely distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, from the coast of East Africa between Tanzania and Mozambique to the western Pacific Ocean (where it reaches as far east as Samoa). It is found as far north as southern Japan and as far south as New Caledonia. In Australia, it is found at Ningaloo Reef, Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef in Western Australia; Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea and the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.