The following is an excerpt from an email from LA in which Kevin Kohen went into detail regarding differences between the two species of personifers. I contacted LA after noticing that mine was getting bigger and hadn't developed the well known stripe. Kevin informed me that even though most get the stripe some do not and that there are many other defining characteristics to determine whether it is a true personifer or not. Here is what they sent me... (They are awesome)
"Kevin Kohen has provided us with some example images of fishes for both species: False Personifer Angelfish- Chaetodontoplus meredithi and Western Australian True Personifer Angelfish- Chaetodontoplus personifer, all of which are about the same size specimens.
In addition, he mentioned that he in the process of preparing an article on the morphology and distinguishing characteristics of these two species in an effort to dispel some myths and hopefully add to the scientific and taxonomic literature on these fishes.
Attached are numerous images of both species, including the image that that you provided.
There are a few distinct differences between these two species that can be easily seen when they are young which include:
1) Western Australian True Personifer Angelfish- Chaetodon personifer have a distinct yellow and white first dorsal spine, where as C. meredithi have a black first dorsal spine.
2) Western Australian True Personifer Angelfish- Chaetodon personifer have a distinct yellow pectoral fin (side fin) with varying thicknesses and shades of black at the peduncle (where the fin meets the body). Chaetodon meredithi have an all black pectoral fin outlined in yellow.
3) Chaetodon meredithi have a distinct, dark black mark that resembles a spot in the same coloration as the fishes’ main body, which resides close to the base of the yellow pelvic fins on the fishes’ chest. Chaetodontoplus personifer lack distinct mark.
These are the major characteristics that Kevin has identified which differentiate these two species when they are juveniles, small females, or immature males and can be observed when the fish are in the 3-10 CM range."
