French Angelfish

This striking angelfish is almost entirely black, with only the tips of its scales bearing a bright yellow coloration.

• Size

  11 inches (28 cm)

• Diet

  Sponges, algae, bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonian corals and tunicates

• Range

  Western Atlantic Ocean

• Habitat

  Subtropical shallow reefs

Physical Characteristics

• Commonly 11 inches long (28 cm), can reach maximum size near 16 inches (41 cm).
• Adults are almost entirely black with yellow rings on the body scales. Has a bright yellow ring around its eyes.
• Sub-adults will have some scale coloration, usually with two to three yellow bars.
• Juveniles have three yellow body bars and a yellow band that goes from the forehead, stops at the upper lip and splits to go around the mouth.

Animal Fun Fact

Breeding pairs of foxface angelfish will defend their territory from other pairs.

Diet / Feeding

• Diet consists of sponges, algae, bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonian corals and tunicates.
• Juveniles set up cleaning stations, cleaning jacks, snappers, morays, grunts, surgeonfishes and wrasses.

Range / Habitat

• Occurs in the Western Atlantic from Florida and the Bahamas through the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. In the Eastern Atlantic on Ascension Island and St. Paul’s Rocks.
• Found in subtropical shallow reefs near sea fans at depths from 9-330 feet (3-100.5 m).

Reproduction & Growth

• Oviparous and monogamous, as it has one mate at a time, but does not necessarily remain together permanently.

Conservation Status

• “Least Concern” on IUCN Red List.

Additional Information

• This species is usually found in pairs, and breeding pairs territorially defend their space from other pairs.

Sources

• www.fishbase.org
• iucnredlist.org
• www.animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pomacanthus_paru/
• www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/french-angelfish