Emperor angelfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor angelfish |
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The emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) is a super colorful fish that lives in the ocean. It's a type of marine angelfish. You can find these beautiful fish swimming around coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, all the way from the Red Sea to Hawaii.
People love to take pictures of them because they have such amazing patterns and bright colors! They are not in danger of disappearing, which is great news.
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Appearance and Colors
Emperor angelfish look very different when they are young compared to when they are adults. It's like they have two completely different outfits!
Juvenile Fish
Young emperor angelfish have a dark blue body. They are covered in cool, swirling lines that are pale blue and white. These lines get smaller and smaller towards their tail. Near their head, the lines become straight up and down.
Their top fin has a white edge, and their tail fin is clear.
Adult Fish
Adult emperor angelfish are striped with bright blue and yellow lines that go across their body. Their face is light blue, and they have a dark blue "mask" over their eyes. Their tail fin is bright yellow.
They also have a black band above their front fins. This band has a bright blue edge in the front and a thin yellow line at the back. Their bottom fin is dark blue with lighter blue stripes. These fish can grow up to about 40 centimeters long.
Where They Live
The emperor angelfish lives in many parts of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. You can find them from the Red Sea in the west, all the way along the coast of East Africa to Mozambique and Madagascar.
They also live across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, reaching as far as the Tuamotu Islands and the Line Islands. In the north, they are found near Japan, and in the south, near Australia's Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia. Sometimes, they even show up in Hawaii! Recently, some have been seen in the eastern Mediterranean basin.
Habitat and Behavior
Emperor angelfish usually live in water that is between 1 and 100 meters deep. Adult fish like to hang out in places with lots of corals, like clear lagoons or reefs facing the open ocean. They often hide under ledges or inside caves.
Younger fish, called subadults, are often found in reef holes and along channels where waves crash. Very young fish, or juveniles, often hide under ledges, in reef holes, and in calm spots on outer reefs.
What They Eat
These fish eat sponges and other small creatures that grow on rocks. They also eat tunicates, which are simple marine animals.
Social Life
Emperor angelfish usually live in pairs. Both young and adult emperor angelfish can act as "cleaner fish." This means they pick off tiny bugs, called ectoparasites, from the skin of bigger fish. It's like a cleaning service for other fish! If they get scared, these fish can make a knocking sound.
Naming the Emperor Angelfish
The emperor angelfish was first officially described in 1787. A German doctor and naturalist named Marcus Elieser Bloch gave it the scientific name Chaetodon imperator.
The name imperator means "emperor." This name was first used by a publisher named Louis Renard in 1719. He called it "Emperor of Japan," probably because of its grand and majestic look.
Popularity in Aquariums
The emperor angelfish is very popular in the aquarium trade. Many people like to keep these beautiful fish in their home aquariums because of their stunning colors and patterns.
Gallery
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Emperor angelfish at Wakatobi National Park, 2018
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Emperor angelfish at Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World, 2007
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Emperor angelfish at Raja Ampat, 2020
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Emperor angelfish at Réunion Island France, 2013
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Adult Emperor angelfish, 2012
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Juvenile Emperor angelfish at Manatuto Timor-Leste, 2006
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Juvenile Emperor angelfish at Manatuto Timor-Leste, 2006
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Close up of Juvenile Emperor angelfish at Marsa Alam Egypt, 2014
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