Angelfishes
French Angelfish
Pomacanthus paru
Species Overview
Mostly black, deep, compressed body; most scales rimmed golden yellow; yellow dorsal-fin filament; whitish chin; eye narrowly ringed with blue below; yellow-orange bar at pectoral-fin base.
- Depth range
- 3-100 m (FishBase).
- Habitat
- Shallow coral reefs, usually in pairs and often near sea fans.
- Diet
- Sponges, algae, bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonians and tunicates (FishBase); bites leave V-shaped scars on vase sponges; juveniles eat algae, detritus and parasites (Florida Museum).
- Range
- Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, Gulf of Mexico and Brazil (ReefGuide); western Atlantic from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil, and in the eastern Atlantic at Ascension Island and St Paul's Rocks (FishBase).
Life stages
Juvenile (ReefGuide photo): dark brown to black with three thick yellow bands that extend onto fins; head band stops at the lips; round black tail spot. Intermediate phase (ReefGuide photo): bands fade until only the pectoral-base bar remains (Florida Museum).
Ecological role
Sponge predator; juveniles are important reef cleaners.
Explore reef conservation
Learn about Caribbean reef habitats, invasive lionfish and the work of the Caribbean Reef Fish Foundation.
TL means total length; SL excludes the tail fin; FL measures to the tail fork. These measurements are not interchangeable.