Queen angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Size: 25–45 cm · 0.3–1.6 kg
Diet: Omnivore
Activity: Cathemeral
Sociality: Loose group
Lifespan: 5-20 years

The queen angelfish is a vividly colored reef fish of the Atlantic. Active across day and night, it cruises reefs while loosely spacing itself from neighbors.

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Key facts

Queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) is an omnivore animal classified as Fish · Acanthuriformes · Pomacanthidae.
Primary habitats are coral reef, with a range across Atlantic Ocean.
Activity is cathemeral, sociality is loose group, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
The queen angelfish is a vividly colored reef fish of the Atlantic.
It lives on Atlantic reefs, rocky coral areas, and shallow Caribbean waters.
Typical lifespan: 5-20 years

Sources

wikidata.org

Range

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It lives on Atlantic reefs, rocky coral areas, and shallow Caribbean waters. Shelter and sponge-rich reef surfaces are especially useful.

Appearance

Length is about 25-45 cm and weight about 300-1600 g. Electric blue and yellow edges, bright body color, and a crown-like mark on the forehead stand out.

Behavior

It may travel alone or as a pair, often keeping a small home range. The fish turns tightly around reef cover while picking at food.

Feeding

It is omnivorous, eating sponges, algae, and small invertebrates. It nips at hard reef surfaces and removes food in small bites.

Reproduction

Pairs rise into the water near dusk and release eggs and sperm. Eggs and larvae drift as plankton before young settle onto reefs.

Notes

Its status is listed as Least Concern. It is popular in aquaria, and wild fish depend on healthy reef and sponge communities.