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King angelfish (Holacanthus passer) — Pomacanthidae

King angelfish

Holacanthus passer
Family: Pomacanthidae
LC · Least Concern

The King angelfish (Holacanthus passer) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacanthidae that grows up to 36 cm.

Length
35.6 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
4.0–30.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The king angelfish is an angelfish of the family Pomacanthidae from the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 36 cm and has a dark, blue-grey body with a conspicuous narrow white vertical bar behind the head and yellow-orange fins. It is common on rocky and coral-rich reefs, often in pairs or small groups. As a diurnal grazer it feeds mainly on sponges, supplemented with algae, zooplankton and sessile invertebrates; it sometimes acts as a cleaner for larger fishes. The king angelfish is popular in the marine aquarium and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the King angelfish?

The King angelfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the King angelfish live?

The King angelfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the King angelfish get?

The King angelfish grows to a maximum of about 36 cm. On average the species is around 15 cm.

Is the King angelfish dangerous to humans?

No, the King angelfish is harmless to humans.

Is the King angelfish edible?

The King angelfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Koningskeizersvis sourced
English name
King angelfish verified
Scientific name
Holacanthus passer
Family
Pomacanthidae
Other names
King angelfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.6 verified
Average length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Vertical bars inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
4.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Holacanthus

More from the family Pomacanthidae

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