Queen angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris
Sighting evidence at South West Bay Reef, Corn Islands
Photo: Phil Garner · © all rights reserved
Among the most brilliantly coloured fish in the Caribbean, the queen angelfish feeds almost exclusively on sponges — an unusual dietary specialisation that makes it an important sponge population regulator on healthy reefs. Its vivid electric-blue and yellow colouration signals toxicity to potential predators. Juveniles have a striking vertical banding pattern and serve as cleaning station attendants before transitioning to the adult form.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Queen angelfish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.