Ballina angelfish

The Ballina angelfish lives in the reef-associated, non-migratory, marine, depth range 100 - 120 m environment.

The Ballina Angelfish is a protected species that is only known from northern coastal New South Wales and Balls Pyramid, near Lord Howe Island, New South Wales. More

A Ballina Angelfish at a depth of 20 m, near Ball's Pyramid, New South Wales, April, 1994. This is the first underwater photograph taken of this species. More

of the Ballina Angelfish, leading Norman to announce (in an amazingly bullish manner) that "it appears that this species may be quite abundant in this special region. More

The Ballina Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus ballinae) was only known from one specimen that was trawled up in 1959 and then described as a new species by Gilbert Whitley (See holotype image here). Fast forward to the 90s and only a handful had been seen. More

One Ballina angelfish, Chaetodontoplus ballinae, was sighted NE of Balls Pyramid on a BRUVS set (BS3_5). The towed video imagery allowed identification of 12 individuals of this species from both Lord Howe and Balls Pyramid rises. More

Ballina angelfish occur in northern NSW around Coffs Harbour, Ballina and North Solitary Islands, and around the Balls Pyramid area of Lord Howe Island. More

The Ballina Angelfish grows to 20cm in length. They are black and white with yellow fins. Nothing is known of its diet but related species feed on sponges, tunicates and algae. More

few of the rare Ballina Angelfish, usually found in deep water. The divers returned short after with a permit for collecting the fish for supposed “scientific purposes”. More

The Ballina Angelfish can be recognised by its distinctive colouration. It is pearly grey to whitish with a broad region of black covering much of the back and pectoral fin base. There are black areas through the mouth and eye. More

The Ballina Angelfish is a deep water Angel that is generally only found in water in excess of 100 meters. Balina Angelfish. More

Ballina Angelfish is a deep water angelfish mainly found in depths in excess of 100 meters. The Ballina Angelfish can be seen around the base of Ball’s Pyramid and its two surrounding islands, Wheatsheaf and Observatory Rock, in approximately 25 meters. More

conscious and was instrumental in placing the Ballina Angelfish on the N.S.W. fish-protection list. Darren will drop everything to help a whale, shark or yacht in distress. He also has his own 34 ft. jet-boat. More

Common names

Arrow-backed angel fish in English
Ballina angelfish in English
Ballina-kejserfisk in Danish (dansk)
巴林荷包魚 in Mandarin Chinese
巴林荷包魚 in Unknown
巴林荷包鱼 in Mandarin Chinese
巴林荷包鱼 in Unknown

Order : Perciformes
Family : Pomacanthidae
Genus : Chaetodontoplus
Species : Chaetodontoplus ballinae
Authority : Whitley, 1959