Queen angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris
Currently not on view
| Diet | Primarily sponges, as well as algae, jellies, and small invertebrates |
|---|---|
| Size | Length: Up to 17.7 inches (45 cm); Common length: 11.8 inches (30 cm) |
| Type | Fishes |
| Range | Western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico from Southeastern United States to Brazil, South America; St. Paul's Rocks in mid-Atlantic Ocean |
| Habitat | Found on coral reefs in the western to mid-Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico |
About the Queen angelfish
Queen angelfish get their name from the "crown" of electric blue encircling a black spot just above their eyes. Their vibrant colors help them evade predators by blending in among equally vivid corals on Caribbean and western Atlantic reefs.
Did you know?
- As if being brilliantly yellow and blue weren’t enough, the queen angelfish’s head is topped with a “bejeweled” blue crown.
IUCN Red List Conservation Status
Junior cleanup crew
Juvenile queen angelfish feed on parasites living on larger fishes. It might sound daring, but it's a common symbiotic relationship on coral reefs: The small fish position themselves to advertise their cleaning services and other fishes line up. Cleaning stations are safe zones from predation. While the young fish get an easy, high-protein meal, their "clients" benefit from the removal of parasites on their scales and gills. Adult queen angelfish are omnivores, feeding mainly on sponges and algae.