French Angelfish

ID points

• Every scale on the black body is rimmed with gold
• A bright yellow arc along the edge of the gill cover
• Juveniles have five bright yellow vertical bands on black

Basics

Family

Pomacanthidae

Length

30–40 cm

Depth

2-100 m

Regions

Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Caribbean coral reefs

Diet

Sponges, algae

Easily confused with

Emperor AngelfishAdults have fine parallel diagonal lines alternating yellow and blueQueen AngelfishA black crown spot ringed in bright blue on top of the headRegal AngelfishBlue-edged white diagonal bands on an orange-yellow ground

Fun fact

Juveniles are black with bright yellow bars, while adults turn black with gold-rimmed scales. You would never guess the two were the same fish.

More in this family

• Bicolor Angelfish
• Flame Angelfish
• Semicircle Angelfish