TAXONOMY
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)

Genus/species: Pygoplites diacanthus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Identified by 7 or 8 dark edged bluish-white bars that run horizontally down its body. Its body is yellow with blue coloration on the rear of the dorsal fin and it has a small dark patch over its eye. It has a strong preopercular spine. The anal fin has yellow and blue stripes. Juveniles are similarly colored to adults except for a large false eye-spot at the base of the dorsal fin. This fades as the fish matures and it’s gone by the time the fish reaches a length of 6-7 cm. The maximum adult size is reported to be between 20 and 30 cm (8 and 12 inches).

Regal Angelfish Pygoplites diacanthus

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: P. diacanthus is found throughout the Northern and Western Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Indo- Pacific Ocean. They are commonly observed as solitary individuals and in pairs and never stray far from a reef crevice. The maximum adult size is reported to be between 20 and 30 cm (8 and 12 inches).
They are always on the move swimming from crevice to crevice in search of food. Found at depths from 1-20 meters (3-66 ft.)

DIET IN THE WILD: Sponges and tunicates.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Least concerned.

Location: Water planet coral exhibit WP33

References

flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/sets/72157606840726733/

WordPress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-xt

Australian Museum australianmuseum.net.au/Regal-Angelfish-Pygoplites-diacan…

fishbase fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=6572