Queen angelfish (Ecology)
The queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) is a member of the angelfish family (Family Pomacanthidae) that lives on coral reefs in the Western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
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Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia (Animals) |
Physical Description
Adult queen angelfish range from 20 to 45 centimeters in length. Their laterally compressed, round bodies are blue and are covered with golden flecks. They derive their name from the round blue spot on their forehead, manifesting as “a crown”. Individuals of this species exhibit bright yellow tails. Juveniles are typically dark, with three narrow bright blue bars across their bodies, a dark blue bar through their eyes, and yellow lips.
Distribution
In the Western Atlantic they are found from Florida, USA to Brazil, in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea (Caribbean Sea large marine ecosystem). In the Eastern Central Atlantic they are found at St. Paul's Rocks.
Habitat
H. ciliaris is characteristically found in coral reef areas in depths from one to 70 meters within the epipelagic zone, where some sunlight penetration exists..
Feeding Behavior
Queen angelfish feed almost entirely on sponges (about 97% of their diet) as well as hydroids, tunicates and algae. Angelfish have adaptations to allow them to feed on sponges. Their strong mouths allow them to tear off pieces of sponges and they secrete mucous around their food to protect their stomachs from the sponges’ spiny spicules. Juvenile Queen angelfish primarily feed on algae, but may act as cleaners and feed on parasites from other fishes.
Behavior
Queen angelfish feed on the reef throughout the day. Usually they travel alone or in pairs. Males forage over large home ranges that may contain the home ranges of several females.
Reproduction
They are thought to be protogynous hermaphrodites, so they can change sex from females to males. Spawning occurs in the water column where a female releases from 25,000 to 75,000 eggs each evening which are fertilized by the male. The eggs hatch after 15 to 20 hours and the larvae enter the planktonic stage. After three to four weeks when they lhave reached 15 to 20 millimeters in length the larvaesettle on the bottom. Thesolitary juvenileslive in colonies of finger sponges and coral where they defend territories andset up cleaning stations. Maturity is reached after about 3.4 years.
Associations
Juvenilequeenangelfish may act as cleaners.
Conservation Status
Queen angelfish are not classified as a species at risk.
References and Further Reading
- Encyclopedia of Life. Species curator: C.Michael Hogan. 2011. Holacanthus ciliaris (Linnaeus, 1758)
- National Geographic. Queen Angelfish
- Marinebio. Holacanthus ciliaris Queen Angelfish
- Florida Museum of Natural History. Queen Angelfish
- P.Humann and N.Deloach (Editor) 1994. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348078
- N.Deloach. 1999. Reef Fish Behavior, Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. New World Publications, Inc. Jacksonville, FL. ISBN: 1878348280
