42 photos - 19 species
Introduction
There are over 85 species.
The angelfish has a spine on the lower edge of its gills.
The small angelfish mostly eat algae and are usually shy and reclusive.
The large angelfish cannot be overlooked, are territorial
and will fight for their "patch" of reef if necessary.
Apolemichthys trimaculatus
Threespot angelfish or Flagfin angelfish
Maximum length: 18 cm
Depth: 5 - 35 metres
The name refers to three spots: a black one on the forehead and one behind each gill cover.
These can also be lighter in colour.
The colouring is a vivid yellow, the mouth has bluish coloured lips.
Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives
Apolemichthys xanthotis
Yellow-ear angelfish or Red sea angelfish
Maximum length: 15 cm
Depth: 5 - 35 m
Inhabits rock and coral reefs.
Eats algae, sponges and invertebrates.
Photo 1 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Centropyge argi
Cherubfish or Pygmy angelfish
Maximum length: 8 cm
Depth: 10 - 120 m
Face and breast are yellow to orange.
Dark blue body.
There is a blue ring around the eye.
Very shy, hides in crevices when approached, therefore very difficult to photograph.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Centropyge aurantonotus
Flameback angelfish, Flameback pygmy angelfish, Brazilian flameback angelfish, Caribbean flameback angelfish or Fireball angelfish
Maximum length: 8 cm
Depth: 25 - 200 metres
Face, neck, back and dorsal fin yellow to orange, body dark blue.
Occasionally found in the south-eastern islands of the Caribbean.
Inhabits deep reefs and occasionally steep walls, mostly below 25 metres.
Relatively shy towards divers, usually hides when approached.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Centropyge bicolor
Bicolor angelfish, Pacific rock beauty, Oriole angelfish,
Oriole dwarf angel, Blue and gold angel or Two-colored angel
Maximum length: 15 cm
Depth: 5 - 25 m
Head, front body and tail bright yellow with blue saddle over the eyes.
Hind body blue.
Found singly, in pairs or in small groups in lagoons and outer reefs, reef and rubble areas.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Photo 2 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Centropyge loriculus
Flame angelfish, Flame angel, Flaming angelfish or
Japanese pygmy angelfish
Maximum length: 10 cm
Depth: 3 - 20 m
Widespread in Southeast Asia.
Rarer in coastal reefs, more common in oceanic deposits.
Photo 1 Johnny: Luxembourg
Centropyge vrolikii
Pearlscale angelfish or Half black angelfish
Maximum length: 12 cm
Depth: 3 - 25 m
Pale grey body with a black flowing transition on the hind body.
The caudal fin has a fine blue edge.
There is a short orange-brown line on the gill cover.
Travel in loose groups or individually.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Chaetodontoplus mesoleucus
Vermiculated angelfish
Maximum length: 18 cm
Depth: 6 - 30 metres
Found in coastal reefs and lagoons.
Almost always swimming in pairs.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Photo 3 Johnny: Lembeh Strait North Sulawesi
Genicanthus caudovittatus
Zebra angelfish, Swallowtail angelfish or Lyretail angelfish
Maximum length: 20 cm
Depth: 15 - 60 metres
Inhabits coral-rich outer slopes and drop-offs.
Feeds on zooplankton in open water.
Not shy.
Photos 1 - 2 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Genicanthus lamarck
Blackstriped angelfish or Lamarck's angelfish
Maximum length: 25 cm
Depth: 10 - 50 metres
The male has a yellow forehead spot.
In the female, the upper lateral stripe bends and extends to the entire underside of the caudal fin.
Photo 1 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Holacanthus ciliaris
Queen angelfish, Blue angelfish, Golden angelfish or Yellow angelfish
Maximum length: 45 cm
Depth: 5 - 30 metres
Dark blue spot on the forehead, with a bright blue ring and a yellow tail.
Chest, ventral fin and face are yellow, lips and gill covers are deep blue,
the scales are blue with a yellow border.
It can be found swimming slowly around the reef.
A little shy, yet curious.
When approached, they swim away,
but then often come back to watch the diver curiously.
Photo 1 + 4 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Photos 2 + 3 + 5 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Holacanthus tricolor
Rock beauty, Corn sugar, Coshubba, Rock beasty, Catalineta or
Yellow nanny
Maximum length: 30 cm
Depth: 3 - 30 metres
The first third and the tail are yellow, the rest is black.
Some have blue lips.
They have fixed territories in the reef.
A little shy, yet curious.
They swim away when approached, but then often come back to watch the diver curiously.
Photo 1 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean
Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean
Pomacanthus asfur
Arabian angelfish
Maximum length: 40 cm
Depth: 3 - 40 m
Inhabits murky inland reefs or muddy outer reefs with little coral growth.
It is only found in the Red Sea, but rather rarely as it is always well hidden.
Photo 1 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt
Pomacanthus imperator
Emperor angelfish
Maximum length: 40 cm
Depth: 3 - 70 m
Open under overhangs and near caves in coral-rich areas.
Single or in pairs.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North Sulawesi
Photos 2 - 3 Johnny: Hurghada Egypt
Pomacanthus maculosus
Yellowbar angelfish, Half-moon angelfish, Yellow-marked angelfish,
Yellowband angelfish or Yellow blotched angelfish
Maximum length: 50 cm
Depth: 2 - 60 m
Found in shallow lagoons and coral-rich outer reefs.
Eats sponges and algae.
Not shy.
Photos 1 - 2 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt
Pomacanthus navarchus
Blue-girdled angelfish or Majestic angelfish
Maximum length: 25 cm
Depth: 3 - 40 metres
Blue pectoral fin, yellow to orange body and tail.
In front of the tail is a dark blue area that extends over the anal fin and over the belly to the forehead.
A shy fish that usually travels alone near its hiding place.
Photo 1 Johnny: Bangka Island North - Sulawesi
Photo 2 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Pomacanthus paru
French angelfish
Maximum length: 45 cm
Depth: 5 - 30 metres
Black body with bright yellow scales and a rounded tail fin.
A bright yellow ring runs around its eyes.
Apart from the pectoral fins, which are yellow at the base, all fins are black.
Often swims in pairs in the reef,
Confident, you can get close to them.
Photos 1 - 3 + 6 - 7 Astrid: Bonaire Caribbean.
Photos 4 + 5 Johnny: Bonaire Caribbean.
Pomacanthus xanthometopon
Blueface angelfish or Yellowface angelfish
Maximum length: 40 cm
Depth: 5 - 45 metres
The largest angelfish in the Maldives, it makes a drumming noise when disturbed.
Photo 1 Johnny: Embudu Maldives
Pygoplites diacanthus
Royal angelfish or Regal angelfish
Maximum length: 25 cm
Depth: 1 - 50 m
This species prefers to eat sponges and is very common in the Indo-Pacific, but they have the most beautiful colours in the Red Sea.
Photo 1 Johnny: Moalboal Philippines
Photo 2 Astrid: Hurghada Egypt