Queen Angelfish

Common Name:
Queen Angelfish
Scientific Name:
Holacanthus ciliaris
Type:
Fish
Diet:
Omnivore
Group Name:
School
Average Life Span In The Wild:
Up to 15 years
Size:
Up to 18 inches
Weight:
Up to 3.5 pounds
IUCN Red List Status:
Least concern
Current Population Trend:
Stable

Queen angelfish get their royal title from the speckled, blue-ringed black spot on their heads that resembles a crown.

Colorful Appearance

Decked out with electric blue bodies, blazing yellow tails, and light purple and orange highlights, Queen angels are among the most strikingly colorful of all reef fishes. Their adornments seem shockingly conspicuous, but they blend well when hiding amid the exotic reef colors.

Characteristics

They are shy fish, found either alone or often in pairs in the warm waters of the Caribbean and western Atlantic. Fairly large for reef-dwellers, they can grow up to 18 inches in length. They have rounded heads and small beak-like mouths, and, like other angelfish, their long upper and lower fins stream dramatically behind them.

Diet

Their diet consists almost entirely of sponges and algae, but they will also nibble on sea fans, soft corals, and even jellyfish.

Relationship to Blue Angelfish

Queen angels are close relatives of the equally striking blue angelfish. In fact, these two species are known to mate, forming natural hybrids, a very rare occurrence among angelfish.

Population

They are widely harvested for the aquarium trade, but are common throughout their range and have no special protections or status.

This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community.
This photo was submitted to Your Shot, our photo community on Instagram. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community.
Photograph by Ken Kiefer, National Geographic Your Shot

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