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Queen Angelfish
Aaron Papa
PERIOD 5
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
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COMMON NAME: Queen Angelfish
KINGDOM: Animalia
PHYLUM: Chordata
CLASS: Osteichthyes
ORDER: Perciformes
FAMILY: Pomacanthidae
GENUS SPECIES: Holacanthus ciliaris
Information
• SIZE: 20.3-35.6 cm (8-14 in) avg; 45.7 cm (18
in) max
• WEIGHT: 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs) max
• INCUBATION: Species exhibits dioecism.
Fertilization is external. Species is open
water/substratum egg scatterer.
• SEXUAL MATURITY:22-24 cm in total body
length
• LIFE SPAN: Average lifespan in the wild is up to
• 15 years.
DIET AND PREDATION
• · Food Habits
– The queen angelfish feeds on a variety of
marine invertebrates including sponges,
tunicates, jellyfish, and corals as well as
plankton and algae. Stomach content
analysis has concluded that the majority
of the diet is made up of sponges. Young
individuals feed by setting up cleaning
stations, picking parasites off larger fish.
– Predation
Queen angelfish may be preyed upon by
many larger fish that inhabit coral reefs;
however, predation has not been well
studied.
HABITAT
• Habitat – It stays near the bottom in coral reef habitats.
The queen angelfish can be found from nearshore
shallows down to the deepest portion of the reef where
the lack of light inhibits coral growth (approximately 230
feet (70 m)). They are generally solitary or found
swimming in pairs through the gorgonians and corals of
the reef.
Geographical Distribution - The queen angelfish is a
subtropical insular species, preferring reefs that surround
offshore islands. The queen is limited to tropical western
Atlantic waters, ranging from Bermuda to Brazil and from
Panama to the Windward Islands. The species is most
abundant throughout the Caribbean.
REPRODUCTION
• Reproduction
– The adults are found in pairs year round, perhaps suggesting
a long-term monogamous bond. The pairs reproduce by rising
up in the water, bringing their bellies close together, and
release clouds of sperm and eggs. The female can release
anywhere from 25 to 75 thousand eggs each evening and as
many as ten million eggs during each spawning cycle. The
eggs are transparent, bouyant, and pelagic, floating in the
water column. They hatch after 15 to 20 hours into larvae that
lack effective eyes, fins, or even a gut. The large yolk sac is
absorbed after 48 hours, during which time the larvae develop
normal characteristics of free swimming fish. Larvae are
found in the water column and feed on plankton. The larvae
grow rapidly and about 3-4 weeks after hatching the 15-20mm
long juvenile settles on the bottom.
Economic Importance for
Humans
• Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
• Queen angelfish are popular additions to
saltwater aquariums because of their beautiful
coloration as both juveniles and adults. Because
new technologies have allowed hobbyists to
effectively care for and keep marine fish, queen
angelfish are increasing sought after. In Florida,
queen angelfish averaged from $11.16 to $17.84
USD per fish between 1990 and 1998. Retail
prices vary with size and range between $60
and $130 USD. Adult mating pairs sell at a
premium.
Relationship
• Relationship to Blue Angelfish
• Queen angelfish are a close relative of
blue angelfish, another bold blue fish
species, and can actually cross-breed with
them to create natural hybrids. This is rare
among angelfish, as most species cannot
interbreed.