Reef fish

Queen angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Coral reefs and sponge-covered ledges

Photo: Pedro Lastra · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Source and license. Displayed as a resized crop. Photograph illustrates the species.

Habitat: Coral reefs and sponge-covered ledges
Published depth range: Coastal shallows to about 70 m
Viewing activities: Snorkeling · Scuba diving

What to look for

Adults have a deep, flattened body with blue and yellow coloration, a yellow tail and a dark, blue-marked forehead spot resembling a crown. The crown helps distinguish them from blue angelfish, although hybrids can complicate identification.

What it eats

Sponges make up much of the adult diet, alongside other reef organisms.

Life and behavior

Juveniles can remove parasites from larger fish at cleaning stations. Their appearance and role on the reef differ from those of adults.

Field context

Coral reefs, usually near the bottom, from nearshore shallows to about 70 m.

Observing responsibly

Look around reef structure and sponges. The blue-edged crown on the forehead helps distinguish adults.

When to look

The available records do not establish a reliable local viewing season. Use the map’s month filter to inspect dated observations; it does not predict an encounter.

RECORDED PRESENCE

Where has Queen angelfish been recorded?

These destination links use the same area and date cutoff as the map: 40 km circles, except for the four named regional rectangles. Checked 2026-09-19. Counts describe source records, not individual animals or sighting odds.

Sources, search boundaries and limitations