Ryan Photographic - Pomacanthidae - Angelfishes

Family Pomacanthidae

Out of all the coral reef fishes the angelfishes must be the most emblematic and recognisable to the non biologist (yes - even more than Dory - the incredibly annoying blue surgeonfish). Fishbase lists 74 species in 9 genera. Angelfishes are found in the tropical Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans but the greatest diversity is in the Western Pacific. All angelfish (as far as I know) possess a large opercular spine (which may discourage predators). Juveniles are often very differently patterned and colored from adults and in some species males and females may have different color patterns. If the dominant male in a haremic species is removed a female typically changes sex to replace him.

Most angelfishes live in relatively shallow water associated with coral reefs (except where these are lacking such as in the Sea of Cortez). The Genicanthus angels are zooplanktivores (that is probably the longest word I have ever typed). Centropyge species concentrate mostly on filamentous algae while others eat tunicates, sponges, bryozoans and other sessile (fixed in place) invertebrates. Some juvenile angels may be opportunist fish cleaners.

Enjoy these guys - some appear to have been designed by Picasso on acid.

Apolemichthys trimaculatus Three-spot angelfish

FISH 4137 Apolemichthys trimaculatus Three-spot angelfish photographed near Kri Eco, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia.

FISH 3064 Apolemichthys trimaculatus Three-spot angelfish photographed near Kri Eco, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia.

Centropyge bicolor Bicolor angelfish

FISH 2244 Centropyge bicolor Bicolor angelfish in the Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia.

Centropyge bispinosus Two-spined angelfish

Centropyge flavissimus Lemonpeel angelfish

Centropyge heraldi Yellow pygmy angelfish

Centropyge tibicen Keyhole angelfish

Centropyge vroliki Pearl-scaled angelfish

Chaetodontoplus mesoleucas Vermiculated angelfish

FISH 2935 Chaetodontoplus mesoleucas Vermiculated angelfish, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia.

FISH 2933 Chaetodontoplus mesoleucas Vermiculated angelfish, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia.

Genicanthus caudovittatus Zebra angelfish

Genicanthus lamarck Blackstriped angelfish

FISH 1334 Genicanthus lamarck male Blackstriped angelfish feeding on plankton, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

FISH 3005 Genicanthus lamarck female Blackstriped angelfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

FISH 3004 Genicanthus lamarck male Blackstriped angelfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

Genicanthus melanospilos Black-spot angelfish

FISH 4875 Female Genicanthus melanospilos Black-spot angelfish, Somosomo Strait, Taveuni, Fiji.

FISH 4857 Male Genicanthus melanospilos Black-spot angelfish, Somosomo Strait, Taveuni, Fiji.

FISH 4852 Female Genicanthus melanospilos Black-spot angelfish, Somosomo Strait, Taveuni, Fiji.

Holacanthus ciliaris Queen angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris Queen angelfish, Glover's Reef, Belize.

Holacanthus clarionensis Clarion Angelfish

Holacanthus passer King angelfish

FISH 6639 Holacanthus passer, Intermediate phase King angelfish, Sea of Cortez.

FISH 5062 Holacanthus passer, adult King angelfish, Sea of Cortez.

FISH 5067 Holacanthus passer, King angelfish "feeding frenzy", Sea of Cortez.

Parma alboscapularis Black angelfish

Pomacanthus arcuatus Gray angelfish

FISH 1047 Pomacanthus arcuatus Gray angelfish head shot, sugar wreck, Bahamas.

FISH 0137 Pomacanthus arcuatus Gray angelfish, sugar wreck, Bahamas.

Pomacanthus imperator Imperial angelfish

Pomacanthus paru French Angelfish

Pomacanthus semicirculatus Semicircle angelfish

Pomacanthus sexfasciatus Six-lined angelfish

FISH 0567 Pomacanthus sexfasciatus Six-lined angelfish, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia.

FISH 0567 Pomacanthus sexfasciatus Six-lined angelfish, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia. The small fish are juvenile Engineer "gobies" Pholidichthys leucotaenia.

Pomacanthus xanthometapon Yellow-mask angelfish

FISH 1626 Pomacanthus xanthometapon Yellow-mask angelfish, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia.

FISH 2927 Pomacanthus xanthometapon Yellow-mask angelfish, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia.

Pomacanthus zonipectus Cortez angelfish

FISH 5375 Pomacanthus zonipectus Cortez angelfish, Sea of Cortez.

FISH 5353 Pomacanthus zonipectus Cortez angelfish, Sea of Cortez.

FISH 5464 Pomacanthus zonipectus Cortez angelfish feeding, Sea of Cortez.

FISH 6426 Pomacanthus zonipectus Cortez angelfish scale detail, Sea of Cortez.

Pygoplites diacanthus Regal angelfish

FISH 1327 Pygoplites diacanthus Regal angelfish, Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia.

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