Regal angelfish
Pygoplites diacanthus
- Scientific name
- Pygoplites diacanthus
- Group
- Reef fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Where to see it
- Indo-Pacific & Red Sea
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The regal angelfish feeds almost exclusively on sponges, a highly specialized diet that makes it notoriously difficult to keep in aquariums. Its orange, blue, and white pattern makes it one of the most recognizable angelfish on the reef.
What defines this group — Reef fish
The bony fish that live against coral and rock: the living backdrop of almost every dive.
- A bony skeleton, scales, and a rigid gill cover closing over the gills.
- A swim bladder acts as a float: they hold their depth without swimming.
- Many change colour, pattern — sometimes even sex — over the course of their life.
Other species in this group
- Ocellaris clownfish
- Blue tang
- Red lionfish
- Spot-fin porcupinefish
- Mediterranean moray
- Clark's anemonefish