King Angelfish
Holacanthus passer
Sighting evidence at Banks Bay, Fernandina Island
Photo: Sylvain Le Bris · CC BY-NC
The king angelfish is among the most dramatically colored reef fish in the Eastern Pacific, and Banks Bay holds some of the highest densities in the Galapagos thanks to the site's rich invertebrate food supply and minimal fishing pressure. Adults display a vertical white band against a dark body with vivid orange caudal and anal fins, while juveniles are uniformly orange with blue trim — two color forms so different they were once described as separate species. They are territorial and bold, often approaching divers and hovering in display at close range, making them among the most reliable subjects for wide-angle photography on the Fernandina reef.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
King Angelfish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.