Regal Angelfish, scientifically named Pygoplites diacanthus, is also known as the Royal Angelfish.
It’s a type of marine fish with ray-like fins. It belongs to the Pomacanthidae family and the unique genus Pygoplites.
This fish is found in tropical Indo-Pacific oceans and can grow up to 25 cm (about 9.8 inches) in length.
Regal angelfish is typically found in coral-rich areas of lagoons and seaward reefs, at depths of up to 48 meters (about 157 feet) or more.
They are often seen near caves and feed on sponges and tunicates. These fish can be found alone, in pairs, or in groups.
They are frequently exported for the aquarium trade, but they rarely survive well in aquariums.
Regal angelfish is not considered reef safe, meaning that if introduced into an aquarium environment, it can potentially harm coral reefs.
Regal Angelfish Interesting Facts
- Regal angelfish is also known as royal angelfish and belongs to the family Pomacanthidae.
- They are found in tropical Indo-Pacific oceans and can grow up to 25 cm long.
- Regal angelfish prefer coral-rich areas of lagoons and seaward reefs, often near caves.
- Although they may be exported through the aquarium trade, they rarely survive in captivity. They are not considered reef-safe.
Regal Angelfish Habitat
Regal angelfish is a marine fish found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Its habitat ranges from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to the Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands, and south to the Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
This fish lives in reef environments and doesn’t migrate.
It can be found at depths between 0 and 80 meters (about 0 to 262 feet) and thrives in tropical climates, specifically between latitudes 32°N and 36°S and longitudes 24°E and 132°W.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Regal Angelfish Physical Characteristics
Size: 9.8 inches (25.0 centimeters)
Regal angelfish can grow up to 25 cm (about 9.8 inches) in length and has a maximum reported age of 15 years.
This fish has 14 dorsal spines, 17 to 19 soft dorsal rays, 3 anal spines, and 17 to 19 soft anal rays.
Regal angelfish has a unique appearance with alternating dark-edged, bluish-white, and orange stripes on its sides.
These stripes narrow and angle backward in the dorsal fin.
The back part of the dorsal fin is black with closely set blue dots, while the back part of the anal fin has alternating yellow and blue bands running parallel to the body contour.
The caudal fin (tail fin) is yellow. Young regal angelfish have a large, eye-like dark spot on the base of their soft dorsal fin.
The body depth of this fish is 1.7 to 2.0 times smaller than its length, and it has 48 to 50 scales in its longitudinal series.
Regal Angelfish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Pomacanthidae |
| Genus: | Pygoplites |
| Scientific Name: | Pygoplites diacanthus |
| Also Known As: | Regal Angelfish, Royal Angelfish |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |