Emperor Angelfish

Glides

Emperor Angelfish

Pomacanthus imperator

Fine yellow stripes on blue and a dark mask over the eyes. A large angel that cruises the reef.

Group
Angelfishes & butterflyfishes
Family
Angelfishes (Pomacanthidae)
Size
About 40 cm long
Habitat
Coral reefs from the Red Sea across the Indian Ocean to the Pacific

About

A blue body covered in fine, slanting yellow stripes, with a dark mask edged in pale blue across its eyes and a yellow tail. It is one of the larger angelfishes.

Juveniles look nothing like the adults: they are dark blue with white rings that swirl like a whirlpool. As they grow, they gradually take on the striped adult colors.

In Fish Around

It glides along at an easy pace, rowing with its pectoral fins as if patrolling the reef.

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