Emperor Angelfish Pomacanthus imperator

An adult emperor angelfish has a dark stripe across its eye area. The stripe resembles a mask and is meant to confuse predators. Its body is vibrantly colored, with alternating stripes in blue and yellow. However, a juvenile looks so different from an adult that it was once believed to be a different type of angelfish. Its body is dark blue with white and electric blue rings. Male emperor angelfish are territorial, and they will defend their living space, as well as the few females they share it with. This area can be as large as 10,760 square feet. The males are so territorial that they may even attack other male emperor angelfish who try to enter their living space. It is omnivorous, eating both small invertebrates and plants. It prefers sponges and algae. Up to 15 inches long. Coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, have been reported off the coast of Hawaii. Least Concern on IUCN Red List. Not noted in reputable sources, but presumably larger fish, sharks, marine mammals. The emperor angelfish, Pomacanthus imperator, 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. It ranges from coastal East Africa and the Red Sea in the west, to the Tuamotu Islands and Line Islands. Rare sightings have been recorded in the Hawaiian Islands, Puerto Rico, and Florida. These appearances are most likely due to aquarium release. Some populations have been observed as far as southern Japan to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, New Caledonia, and the Austral Islands. This species is generally associated with stable populations and faces no major threats of extinction. It is a favorite among photographers, artists, and aquarists because of its unique, brilliant pattern of coloration. Emperor angelfish dwell in reef-associated areas at depths ranging from 1-100 m. Juveniles live alone and inhabit outer lagoon patch reefs or semi-protected exposed channels and reef flats. They tend to hang out at shrimp cleaning stations, feeding off parasites and dead skin of larger fish species. Subadults move to reef front holes and surge channels, while mature adults are found in caves in areas of rich coral growth on clear lagoon, seaward, or channel reefs. Males are territorial and will defend their habitat as well as the females living with them. An angelfish territory can be as large as 10,760 square feet. Adults are also known for making a low-frequency “knocking” sound if disturbed or threatened by divers. Juveniles are dark blue with electric blue and white rings; adults have yellow and blue stripes, with black around the eyes. It takes about 24 to 30 months for an emperor angelfish to acquire its adult coloring. They grow to 40 cm (15.75 in) in length. Juvenile to adult transition may not fully occur in an aquarium. Not only does their coloration change with maturity, but during mating events as well. The mask of a male will turn a dark blue, almost black, while the female will turn a bland color. At dusk, a pair of emperor angelfish will rush to the surface, away from the reef, to mate in area where fertilized eggs can be taken away on currents, and then they then scurry back down to the reef. This mechanism not only prevents egg-eating predators from seeing their release, but the eggs are now able to disperse in areas where new populations of emperor angelfish can form. Emperor angelfish are omnivorous, feeding on both small invertebrates and plants. Sponges and algae are their primary diet. They have bulky, strong jaws that are able to chew up the sponges, which are made up of tiny, needle-like pieces of silica (this would be the equivalent of a human chewing on small shards of glass). The digestive tract of an emperor angelfish coats its food with a layer of mucus in order to further protect itself from the sharp silica.