Queen Angelfish

Aaron PapaPERIOD 5

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

• COMMON NAME: Queen Angelfish• KINGDOM: Animalia• PHYLUM: Chordata• CLASS: Osteichthyes• ORDER: Perciformes• FAMILY: Pomacanthidae• GENUS SPECIES: Holacanthus ciliaris

Information• SIZE: 20.3-35.6 cm (8-14 in) avg; 45.7 cm (18

in) max• WEIGHT: 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs) max • INCUBATION: Species exhibits dioecism.

Fertilization is external. Species is open water/substratum egg scatterer.

• SEXUAL MATURITY:22-24 cm in total body length

• LIFE SPAN: Average lifespan in the wild is up to • 15 years.

DIET AND PREDATION• · Food Habits

– The queen angelfish feeds on a variety of marine invertebrates including sponges, tunicates, jellyfish, and corals as well as plankton and algae. Stomach content analysis has concluded that the majority of the diet is made up of sponges. Young individuals feed by setting up cleaning stations, picking parasites off larger fish.

– Predation Queen angelfish may be preyed upon by

many larger fish that inhabit coral reefs; however, predation has not been well studied.

HABITAT• Habitat – It stays near the bottom in coral reef habitats.

The queen angelfish can be found from nearshore shallows down to the deepest portion of the reef where the lack of light inhibits coral growth (approximately 230 feet (70 m)). They are generally solitary or found swimming in pairs through the gorgonians and corals of the reef. Geographical Distribution - The queen angelfish is a subtropical insular species, preferring reefs that surround offshore islands. The queen is limited to tropical western Atlantic waters, ranging from Bermuda to Brazil and from Panama to the Windward Islands. The species is most abundant throughout the Caribbean.

REPRODUCTION• Reproduction

– The adults are found in pairs year round, perhaps suggesting a long-term monogamous bond. The pairs reproduce by rising up in the water, bringing their bellies close together, and release clouds of sperm and eggs. The female can release anywhere from 25 to 75 thousand eggs each evening and as many as ten million eggs during each spawning cycle. The eggs are transparent, bouyant, and pelagic, floating in the water column. They hatch after 15 to 20 hours into larvae that lack effective eyes, fins, or even a gut. The large yolk sac is absorbed after 48 hours, during which time the larvae develop normal characteristics of free swimming fish. Larvae are found in the water column and feed on plankton. The larvae grow rapidly and about 3-4 weeks after hatching the 15-

20mm long juvenile settles on the bottom.

Economic Importance for Humans

• Economic Importance for Humans: Positive• Queen angelfish are popular additions to

saltwater aquariums because of their beautiful coloration as both juveniles and adults. Because new technologies have allowed hobbyists to effectively care for and keep marine fish, queen angelfish are increasing sought after. In Florida, queen angelfish averaged from $11.16 to $17.84 USD per fish between 1990 and 1998. Retail prices vary with size and range between $60 and $130 USD. Adult mating pairs sell at a premium.

Relationship

• Relationship to Blue Angelfish• Queen angelfish are a close relative of

blue angelfish, another bold blue fish species, and can actually cross-breed with them to create natural hybrids. This is rare among angelfish, as most species cannot interbreed.