HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishYellowhead angelfish Yellowhead angelfish (Centropyge joculator) Scientific name: Centropyge joculator Smith-Vaniz & Randall, 1974 The Yellowhead angelfish (Centropyge joculator) is a marine fish of the family Pomacanthidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, Cocos and Christmas Islands. BiologyResembles C. bicolor of the western Pacific but easily distinguished from it by its coloration, number of dorsal spines, shape of the caudal fin and depth of distribution. Anterior half of the body, from the snout up to the line from the third dorsal spine to the middle of the pelvic-anal fin space, golden yellow; rest of the body, including the adjacent dorsal and anal fins, to the caudal peduncle dark blue or black; caudal fin and peduncle golden yellow. An irregular bright blue band rings the orbit. Dorsal and anal fins with a narrow bright blue margin.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameCentropyge joculatorFamilyPomacanthidae (Angelfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length9.0Depth range8–70 m (26–230 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 8 - 70 mClimateTropicalDistributionEastern Indian Ocean: Cocos and Christmas Islands.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesAquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraMulticolor angelfishCentropyge multicolorFrench butterflyfishPrognathodes guyanensisBlackear angelfishCentropyge hotumatuaYellowfin angelfishCentropyge flavipectoralisFlameback angelfishCentropyge aurantonotusSee all angelfish & butterflyfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026