scubaseason

Queen angelfish

Holacanthus ciliaris

Sighting evidence at Scientists' Corner, Tela

One of the Caribbean's most visually striking reef fish, with electric blue and yellow colouring and a distinctive crown marking. Queen angelfish are sponge specialists — they bite through the otherwise chemically defended tissue of encrusting sponges, filling an ecological niche few other fish can exploit. Pairs are typically monogamous and highly territorial. Their presence at a reef in significant numbers is a proxy for sponge diversity and overall structural complexity, both of which are elevated at Tela.

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.

How is this calculated?

Sighting evidence is compiled from iNaturalist observation records within a set proximity radius, filtered for quality-grade observations. “Last confirmed” is the date of the most recent research-grade record. Record count covers a rolling 24-month window. Confidence reflects record count, recency, and consistency of seasonal signal.

Also seen at other sites