Found on coral reefs. Generally occurs solitarily or in pairs. Moves gracefully between seafans, seawhips, and corals (Ref. 9710). Stomach contents of 26 specimens indicate that the species feeds almost exclusively on sponges supplemented by small amounts of algae, tunicates, hydroids and bryozoans. Young pick ectoparasites from other fishes (Ref. 9710). Marketed fresh (Ref. 3797).

Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Central Atlantic: St. Paul's Rocks (Ref. 13121).

This species is known in the Western Atlantic, from Florida (USA) and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil, the Caribbean including Antilles and south American coast, and in the Eastern Central Atlantic at St. Paul's Rocks (Brazil). It occurs at 1-70 m in depth.

Queen angelfish, Holacanthus ciliaris, are tropical fish found in coral reefs in the western Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean as far south as Brazil. They do not migrate, and they are commonly spotted near the Bahamas and Florida.

Biogeographic Regions: indian ocean (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )

Gulf of Mexico

Western Atlantic.

Dorsal spines (total): 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 19 - 21; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 20 - 21

Queen angelfish are easily distinguished by their striking coloration, with vibrant yellow accents and variations of gem-like blues. Their distinctive "crown" is speckled dark blue and surrounded by a ring of bright blue. Their tail is yellow. Juveniles have a markedly different coloration than adults, displaying a striped blue and yellow pattern or a solid yellow pattern.

The body of queen angelfish is very flat, with an elongated, continuous dorsal and anal fin with 9 to 15 spines and 15 to 17 soft rays. They have a strong spine at the angle of the preopercle (cheek bone) and lack a well developed pelvic axillary process (fleshy bump at the base of the pelvic fin). Queen angelfish average 45 cm in length and 1.6 kg in mass. Males are generally larger than females.

Average mass: 1.6 kg.

Average length: 45 cm.

Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: male larger

Maximum size: 450 mm ---

45.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 4858)); max. published weight: 1,600 g (Ref. 26340)

Tail and pectoral fins entirely yellow. Black spot on forehead has electric blue spots and is surrounded by narrow, electric blue ring. Large blue spot at base of pectoral fin (Ref. 26938). Adults develop short spines on the margin. The color of large adults is purplish blue with yellow-orange rims to the scales; head above eye dark blue, below greenish yellow; mouth, chin, throat, chest and abdomen purplish blue (Ref. 13442)

Type for Holacanthus iodocus
Catalog Number: USNM 47747
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Fishes
Locality: Galapagos Islands., Galapagos Islands, Pacific
Vessel: Albatross

reef-associated; non-migratory; marine; depth range 1 - 70 m (Ref. 9710)

Habitat and Ecology

Systems

• Marine

Queen angelfish are primarily found in coral reefs, which provide shelter and abundant food sources. They can be found at depths up to 70 m. Although they are naturally marine fish, queen angelfish can tolerate changes in salinity. As such, they are often placed in marine aquariums.

Range depth: 70 (high) m.

Habitat Regions: tropical ; saltwater or marine

Aquatic Biomes: reef

Depth range based on 359 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 258 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.5 - 73
  Temperature range (°C): 20.483 - 28.067
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.115 - 3.505
  Salinity (PPS): 34.667 - 37.169
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.285 - 4.773
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.046 - 0.344
  Silicate (umol/l): 0.805 - 5.080

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.5 - 73

Temperature range (°C): 20.483 - 28.067

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.115 - 3.505

Salinity (PPS): 34.667 - 37.169

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.285 - 4.773

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.046 - 0.344

Silicate (umol/l): 0.805 - 5.080
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

Depth: 1 - 70m.
From 1 to 70 meters.

Habitat: reef-associated. Queen angelfish. Attains 45 cm. Blue and Semi-albinotic color morphs occur in St. Paul?s Rocks.

Found on coral reefs. Moves gracefully between seafans, seawhips, and corals (Ref. 9710). Stomach contents of 26 specimens indicate that the species feeds almost exclusively on sponges supplemented by small amounts of algae, tunicates, hydroids and bryozoans. Omnivore (Ref. 57616).

Queen angelfish primarily feed on sponges and corals. They also eat other marine invertebrates, including tunicates, jellyfish, hydroids, bryozoans. They may also eat plankton and algae.

Animal Foods: cnidarians; other marine invertebrates; zooplankton

Plant Foods: algae

Primary Diet: carnivore (Eats other marine invertebrates)

Queen angelfishes feed on sponges, corals and other small invertebrates, and are preyed upon by larger animals that inhabit coral reefs.

Queen angelfish may be preyed upon by many larger fish that inhabit coral reefs; however, predation has not been well studied.

Queen angelfish communicate, particularly during mating, through temporary changes in color. Little information is otherwise available regarding the communication and perception of queen angelfish.

Communication Channels: visual

Perception Channels: visual

After fertilized eggs of queen angelfish float in the water column for 15 to 20 hours, they develop into transparent larvae. Larvae then develop into juveniles, which resemble adults. Larvae feed on plankton and grow rapidly, reaching a size of 15 to 20 mm in their juvenile form.

Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis

The lifespan of queen angelfish has not been well documented.

Queen angelfish are believed to be polygynous, and harems have been observed during courtship and pre-spawning. Harems generally consist of 1 male and up to 4 females. A male courts a female by displaying his pectoral fins, flicking them outward every few seconds. The female then ascends in the water, and the male positions himself below the female. The male touches his snout to her vent (genital) area, rising with the female with his belly close to hers. As the pair rises to about 18 m in depth, they release eggs and sperm.

Mating System: polygynous

Queen angelfish spawn seasonally, which occurs during the winter months in Puerto Rico. Spawning peaks once each year, although queen angelfish may spawn more than once during the year. Spawning behavior has been observed within minutes of sunset during the evening. Females can produce 25,000 to 75,000 eggs in one evening. Eggs hatch in 15 to 20 hours, and larvae absorb the yolk sac in the next 48 hours. Larvae feed on plankton and grow rapidly, reaching a size of 15 to 20 mm in their juvenile form.

Breeding interval: Spawning peaks once a year, but queen angelfish may spawn more than once during the year.

Breeding season: Queen angelfish spawn seasonally, which occurs during the winter in Puerto Rico.

Range time to hatching: 15 to 20 hours.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (External ); broadcast (group) spawning; oviparous

Once eggs are fertilized, zygotes are left develop into larvae without any parental investment. Juvenile queen angelfish find protection among colonies of finger sponges and corals at the bottom of reefs.

Parental Investment: no parental involvement; pre-fertilization (Provisioning)

The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.


There are 13 barcode sequences available from BOLD and GenBank.  Below is a sequence of the barcode region Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI or COX1) from a member of the species.  See the BOLD taxonomy browser for more complete information about this specimen and other sequences.


Download FASTA File

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 13
Specimens with Barcodes: 21
Species With Barcodes: 1

Queen angelfish are considered a species of least concern by the ICUN. Populations are globally stable, although they are harvested in high numbers near Brazil.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

Population

Population Trend

Least Concern (LC)

Major Threats

Conservation Actions

fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial; price category: high; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

There are no known adverse effects of queen angelfish on humans.

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.

Positive Impacts: pet trade