New Hybrid Angel Discovered In Hawaii potter fisher

pactrop

Premium Member
Centropyge potteri x fisheri

This fish was caught by William Crook on 3/6/07 on Oahu in 100' of water.

It is the only know potter fisher hybrid ever reported - Rich Pyle and Jack Randall of the Bishop Museum.

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Great question. That was the same thing I was wondering.

There are obvious potter patterns on this one but it has the pectoral fins and anal fin of a fisher. If you really inspect it (which is much better in person, pictures can only do so much) there are other things like the darker color around the eyes, the body is more gold than orange and more the shape of a fisher.
Rich Pyle is a ichthyologist and did his Ph.D. on Centropyge and he is convinced. Of course being a scientist he did say it like this at one point. "I am as sure as I can be without doing DNA testing.".

We would like to take a small clipping from its fin for DNA but I would like to make sure the person that buys it is o.k. with it first. Even after the death of the fish we are planning on preserving it at Bishop Museum.
 
I saw the fish, and I was awed. Very amazing discovery. Truly amazing fish in person, not too many words to describe it. Pactrop had it next to a fishers and potters (seperate tanks) and the comparisons are unreal. Dream come true. In my opinion the DNA test will confirm any non believers, but most people that know these fish would agree right away. SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET.
 
^^ i agree with alikatoes. There is no doubt in my mind that it is a hybrid after seeing it in person. It looks exactly how I would picture a potters and fishers together. lol

good find Pac :)
 
Bill, first of all, congratulations! This is HUGE! A dream come true I'm sure for you and when we're all dead and gone in the next few hundred years you'll be remembered at the Bishop Museum for eternity... It's amazing to think that none of these have ever been found with all of the divers out there and also considering these two angelfish species are really the only two near common in Hawaii. Before this, the female of my resplendens/ Fisher's pair was though to be the only Fisher's to have shacked up with another species, but apparently not! :D I've already added a few Powerpoint slides to my rare angelfish talk I'm giving with Julian Sprung in a week. This will be the BIG NEWS of the talk!

Again my friend... congrats! Great find! Could I put another exclamation point! I think so! :D

Copps
 
Copps, i think your more excited then Bill... well maybe not :)

the picture is excellent but doesnt do the fish justice. it really is a beautiful fish!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9454426#post9454426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uscharalph
Very cool?

Ralph, the coolness of this guy comes not in his physical beauty, but in his uniqueness. Quite frankly, it's tough to beat the physical beauty of a regular Potter's. The fact that these are the two most common angels in Hawaii and this hybrid has never been seen before is the amazing part...


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9454451#post9454451 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zemuron114
Copps, i think your more excited then Bill... well maybe not :)

the picture is excellent but doesnt do the fish justice. it really is a beautiful fish!

Yeah... this is right up my alley... I love Hawaii and I love all angelfish... especially those that are unique...

Copps :)
 
A very beautiful hybrid! Congratulations to the guy with the lucky/talented net.

Just curious, what will be done with this fish? Will it be released or kept in captivity? Also, were any more seen in the same area?

Thanks :)
 
Thanks everyone.

I was planning on selling the fish and had several great offers but after having it in my holding system waiting for a new home, I guess I got attached to it and didn't want it to leave Hawaii. Knowing that it is a hybrid of two fish found nowhere else in the world but Hawaii and figured the best place for it to be would be the Waikiki Aquarium (Sorry again Copps). It is in quarantine now but should go on display soon.

I hope everyone checks it out. I believe it is going in the deep reef exhibit.
 
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