Pomacanthidae

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Marine angelfish
Pomacanthus paru3.jpg
French angelfish, Pomacanthus paru
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Superfamily: Percoidea
Family: Pomacanthidae
Jordan & Evermann, 1898 [1]
Genera

See text

Marine angelfish are perciform fish of the family Pomacanthidae. They are found on shallow reefs in the tropical Atlantic, Indian, and mostly western Pacific Oceans. The family contains seven genera and about 86 species. They should not be confused with the freshwater angelfish, tropical cichlids of the Amazon Basin.

Contents

Description

Royal angelfish, Pygoplites diacanthus from East Timor Regal angelfish.jpg
Royal angelfish, Pygoplites diacanthus from East Timor

With their bright colours and deep, laterally compressed bodies, marine angelfishes are some of the more conspicuous residents of the reef. They most closely resemble the butterflyfishes, a related family of similarly showy reef fish. Marine angelfish are distinguished from butterflyfish by the presence of strong preopercle spines (part of the gill covers) in the former. This feature also explains the family name Pomacanthidae; from the Greek πομα, poma meaning "cover" and ακάνθα, akantha meaning "thorn".

Many species of marine angelfishes have streamer-like extensions of the soft dorsal and anal fins. The fish have small mouths, relatively large pectoral fins, and rounded to lunate tail fins. The largest species, the gray angelfish, Pomacanthus arcuatus, may reach a length of 60 cm (24 in); at the other extreme, members of the genus Centropyge do not exceed 15 cm (5.9 in). A length of 20 to 30 cm (7.9 to 11.8 in) is typical for the rest of the family. The smaller species are popular amongst aquarists, whereas the largest species are occasionally sought as a food fish; however, ciguatera poisoning has been reported as a result of eating marine angelfish.

Angelfish vary in color and are very hardy fish. When kept in aquariums they can easily adapt to pH and hardness changes in water and can handle conditions that are not considered to be perfect. They are usually a long-living species and are easy to care for. They were very expensive in the aquarium trade when first discovered, but have become more popular and therefore less pricey.

The queen angelfish grows to be 45 cm (18 in). With neon blue and yellow scales and iridescent purple and orange markings, surprisingly it is not conspicuous, and actually hides very well, and is very shy.

As juveniles, some species are different colors than when they reach adulthood. For example, the Blue Angelfish is a vibrant, electric blue color with black and white stripes or spots. When they reach adulthood, they turn a grayish color with yellow and blue fins and dark spots on their bodies.

Behavior

The larger species are also quite bold and seemingly fearless; they are known to approach divers. While the majority adapts easily to captive life, some are specialist feeders which are difficult to maintain. Feeding habits can be strictly defined through genus, with Genicanthus species feeding on zooplankton and Centropyge preferring filamentous algae. Other species focus on sessile benthic invertebrates; sponges, tunicates, bryozoans, and hydroids are staples. On Caribbean coral reefs, angelfishes primarily eat sponges, and have an important role in preventing the overgrowth of reef-building corals by eating faster-growing sponge species. [2] [3]

Most marine angelfishes restrict themselves to the shallows of the reef, seldom venturing deeper than 50 m (160 ft). The recently described Centropyge abei is known to inhabit depths of 150 m (490 ft). They are diurnal animals, hiding amongst the nooks and crevices of the reef by night. Some species are solitary in nature and form highly territorial mated pairs; others form harems with a single male dominant over several females. As juveniles, some species may eke out a living as cleaner fish.

Reproduction

Common to many species is a dramatic shift in coloration associated with maturity. For example, young male ornate angelfish, Genicanthus bellus, have broad, black bands and are indistinguishable from females; as they mature, bright orange bands develop on the flanks and back. Thought to correspond to social rank, these colour shifts are not necessarily confined to males; all marine angelfish species are known to be protogynous hermaphrodites. This means that if the dominant male of a harem is removed, a female will turn into a functional male.

As pelagic spawners, marine angelfishes release many tiny buoyant eggs into the water which then become part of the plankton. The eggs float freely with the currents until hatching, with a high number falling victim to planktonic feeders.

In aquariums, two fish usually will breed within their community but will harass other fish in the tank, so it is best they have their own with plenty of room.

Characteristics

Centropage bispinosa Two-spined angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa) (48272091136).jpg
Centropage bispinosa


Pomacanthus semicirculatus Pomacanthus semicirculatus 1.jpg
Pomacanthus semicirculatus
Centropage bispinosa Two-spined angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa) (46982094864).jpg
Centropage bispinosa
Twospined angelfish (Centropyge bispinosus) (Gunther, 1860) (Saltwater angelfish)Indo-Pacific Ocean, Fiji, Indonesia, Vanuatu
Pomacanthus semicirculatus Pomacanthus semicirculatus 1prg.jpg
Pomacanthus semicirculatus
Pomacanthus semicirculatus (Goode, 1876) (Saltwater angelfish)Indo-Pacific Ocean, Australia, Merimbula, New South Wales


Blue ring Angelfish Pomacanthus annularis at Bomb bay, Netrani Island, India Bluering Angelfish.jpg
Blue ring Angelfish Pomacanthus annularis at Bomb bay, Netrani Island, India

Taxonomy

The Pomacanthidae is frequently placed within the large order Perciformes but taxonomists have also placed the family within the order Acanthuriformes, alongside the Chaetodontidae and Acanthuridae, among others. [8] Other authorities have resolved the family as incertae sedis . [9]

There are 88 species in eight genera: [10] [11]

The more speciose genera are, generally speaking, widely distributed, however some species, especially of the Centropyge genus, are range restricted or endemic to specific islands or small island groups.


ImageGenusNumber of Living Species
Apolemichthys xanthurus.JPG Apolemichthys M. Burton, 19348
Flame angelfish (Centropyge loricula).jpg Centropyge Kaup, 186035
Bluestriped angelfish Chaetodontoplus septentrionalis Side 1883px.jpg Chaetodontoplus Bleeker, 187613
Genicanthus personatus NOAA.jpg Genicanthus Swainson, 183910
Holacanthus ciliaris 2.jpg Holacanthus Lacépède, 18038
Paracentropyge multifasciatus.jpg Paracentropyge W. E. Burgess, 19921
Pomocanthus imperator facing right.jpg Pomacanthus Lacépède, 180213
Pygoplites diacanthus 01.jpg Pygoplites Fraser-Brunner, 19331

Timeline

QuaternaryNeogenePaleogeneHolocenePleist.Plio.MioceneOligoceneEocenePaleocenePomacanthusQuaternaryNeogenePaleogeneHolocenePleist.Plio.MioceneOligoceneEocenePaleocenePomacanthidae

Related Research Articles

<i>Pomacanthus</i> Genus of fishes

Pomacanthus is a genus of marine angelfish that is usually found around reefs and coral. Some of the notable places one can see these vari-coloured fish includes the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Sipidan off the southern coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Generally the patterns and colors of these fish undergo a major transformation from juvenile to adult forms. The juveniles may even appear to be a different species.

<i>Centropyge</i> Genus of fishes

Centropyge is a genus of ray-finned fish, marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. These species do not exceed 15 cm in length and live in haremic structures with one dominant male and multiple females. Although it is hard to identify their gender; females are often shorter and more round finned. Like many other reef fish and all marine angelfish, the species in this genus are protogynous hermaphrodite, meaning that they start their adult lives as females and the dominant individual in a group can change to a male within days. A reversal of this sex change is possible if the social status of the individual changes, it is however a process that requires much more time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emperor angelfish</span> Species of fish

The emperor angelfish is a species of marine angelfish. It is a reef-associated fish, native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Austral Islands. This species is generally associated with stable populations and faces no major threats of extinction. It is a favorite of photographers, artists, and aquarists because of its unique, brilliant pattern of coloration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese angelfish</span> Species of fish

The Japanese angelfish or Japanese pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French angelfish</span> Species of fish

The French angelfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It occurs in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluering angelfish</span> Species of fish

The bluering angelfish, also known as the annularis angelfish and the blue king angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is member of the genus Pomacanthus, composed of large marine angelfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gray angelfish</span> Species of fish

The gray angelfish, also written as grey angelfish and known in Jamaica as the pot cover, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the marine angelfish family, Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen angelfish</span> Species of marine angelfish

The queen angelfish, also known as the blue angelfish, golden angelfish, or yellow angelfish, is a species of marine angelfish found in the western Atlantic Ocean. It is a benthic warm-water species that lives in coral reefs. It is recognized by its blue and yellow coloration and a distinctive spot or "crown" on its forehead. This crown distinguishes it from the closely related and similar-looking Bermuda blue angelfish, with which it overlaps in range and can interbreed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sixbar angelfish</span> Species of fish

The sixbar angelfish, also known as the six banded angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in Indo-Pacific region.

<i>Centropyge eibli</i> Species of fish

Centropyge eibli, the blacktail angelfish, red stripe angelfish, orangelined angelfish, or Eibl dwarf angel is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found near reefs in the Indo-Pacific.

<i>Pomacanthus asfur</i> Species of fish

Pomacanthus asfur, the Arabian angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean.

<i>Pomacanthus maculosus</i> Species of fish

Pomacanthus maculosus, the yellowbar angelfish, half-moon angelfish, yellow-marked angelfish, yellowband angelfish or yellow-blotched angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean and, more recently, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

<i>Pomacanthus zonipectus</i> Species of fish

Pomacanthus zonipectus, the Cortez angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is from the Eastern Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Pomacanthus semicirculatus</i> Species of fish

Pomacanthus semicirculatus, also known as the semicircled angelfish, Koran angelfish, blue angelfish, zebra angelfish or half-circled angelfish, is a species of ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish, in the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Centropyge multicolor</i> Species of fish

Centropyge multicolor, the multicolor angelfish or pearlback angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is from the Pacific Ocean that sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 9 cm in length.

<i>Centropyge ferrugata</i> Species of fish

Centropyge ferrugata, the rusty angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. The rusty angelfish comes from the Western Pacific Ocean and sometimes makes its way into the aquarium trade.

<i>Centropyge vrolikii</i> Species of fish

Centropyge vrolikii, known commonly as the pearlscale angelfish or half black angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden angelfish</span> Species of fish

Golden angelfish, also known as golden pygmy angelfish or velvet dwarf angel, is a small marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It inhabits shallow reefs in the western Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldtail angelfish</span> Species of fish

The goldtail angelfish, also known as the earspot angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean.

<i>Centropyge shepardi</i> Species of fish

Centropyge shepardi, the mango angelfish, Shepard’s angelfish or Shepard’s pygmy angelfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. Richard van der Laan; William N. Eschmeyer & Ronald Fricke (2014). "Family-group names of Recent fishes". Zootaxa. 3882 (2): 001–230. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.3882.1.1 . PMID   25543675.
  2. Loh, T-L; Pawlik, JR (2014). "Chemical defenses and resource trade-offs structure sponge communities on Caribbean coral reefs". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 111 (11): 4151–4156. Bibcode:2014PNAS..111.4151L. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1321626111 . PMC   3964098 . PMID   24567392.
  3. "Angels on the Pinnacle". YouTube . 18 July 2013. French and gray angelfishes eating sponges on Conch Reef, Florida Keys.
  4. "Pomacanthus semicirculatus: Pyle, R., Myers, R., Rocha, L.A. & Craig, M.T." 2009-10-08. doi: 10.2305/iucn.uk.2010-4.rlts.t165851a6148505.en .{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Kondo, Shigeru; Asai, Rihito (August 1995). "A reaction–diffusion wave on the skin of the marine angelfish Pomacanthus". Nature. 376 (6543): 765–768. Bibcode:1995Natur.376..765K. doi:10.1038/376765a0. ISSN   0028-0836. PMID   24547605. S2CID   4327563.
  6. "Pomacanthus semicirculatus summary page". FishBase. Retrieved 2020-04-29.
  7. Lass, David A. (2012). Angelfish : Understanding and Keeping Angelfish. I5 Publishing. ISBN   978-1-62008-001-6. OCLC   1058193506.
  8. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (21 July 2020). "Order ACANTHURIFORMES (part 1): Families LOBOTIDAE, POMACANTHIDAE, DREPANEIDAE and CHAETODONTIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  9. Ricardo Betancur-R; Edward O. Wiley; Gloria Arratia; et al. (2017). "Phylogenetic classification of bony fishes". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 17 (162 (2017)): 162. Bibcode:2017BMCEE..17..162B. doi: 10.1186/s12862-017-0958-3 . PMC   5501477 . PMID   28683774.
  10. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Pomacanthidae". FishBase .
  11. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Pomacanthidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 8 January 2021.

Further reading