Ok, and a few dozen other incredible species, but check this out! Every now and then a photograph shows up that really just strikes you, capturing the incomparable, delicate beauty of a certain species. In this instance, this image of a robust Paracentropyge boylei, the candy cane striped specimen known lovingly as a Peppermint Angel, comes to us just in time for the holiday season from Chingchai Uekrongtham. 

P. boylei has been a prized fish in the industry for quite some time now, and as with most every highly sought after species, it’s no secret why. This deepwater dwarf angel of the South Pacific features arresting coloration – milky-white pearlescent scales sit in perfect juxtaposition to prominent, deep scarlet bars. Perfectly flared ventral fins are laced with fine white tips, and its derriere  traced in fine, inky black. This particular image is stunning down to the paper-thin translucency of the fins and the impossibly fine crosshatching of the scales. It reminds us once again as to why this is a lust-worthy creature. Given its hefty price tag, however, it may be a few years before I can hope to find one under the tree.