Sixbar angelfish
A large Indo-Pacific angelfish with six vertical bands.
The sixbar angelfish (Pomacanthus sexstriatus), also called the six-banded angelfish, is a marine ray-finned fish belonging to the angelfish family Pomacanthidae. Its range covers the Indo-Pacific region.
The scientific name *sexstriatus* translates to "six-banded," a direct reference to the six vertical stripes found on the flanks of adult fish, which also inspired the common names.
French anatomist Georges Cuvier first described this species in 1831 as *Holacanthus sexstriatus*, with the type locality given as Java. Some taxonomists place it in the subgenus *Euxiphipops*, a genus originally established in 1934 by British ichthyologist Alec Fraser-Brunner but later merged into *Pomacanthus*.
Juveniles and adults look very different. Young fish are blue-black with numerous vertical white bands; the front bands are fairly straight, while those near the tail become increasingly curved. Adults have a brownish-yellow body and median fins covered in vivid blue spots, with six vertical bands along the sides—the first, just behind the head, is whitish, and the remaining five are black.
The dorsal fin contains 13–14 spines and 18–23 soft rays, while the anal fin has 3 spines and 18–19 soft rays. In the wild, this species can reach about 46 cm (18 in) in length.
Its distribution stretches from Sri Lanka through the Malay Archipelago to the Solomon Islands, and from the Ryukyu Islands and Palau south to New Caledonia and Australia. In Australia, it appears from Shark Bay in Western Australia, along the northern coast, to the Capricorn and Bunker Group off Queensland, as well as around the Rowley Shoals, Scott Reef, and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea.
Found at depths of 1–60 m (3.3–196.9 ft), adults inhabit lagoons and outer reef slopes with rich coral growth, while juveniles prefer sheltered inner reefs. Adults live alone or in pairs and are omnivorous, eating macroalgae, sponges, and tunicates. When alarmed, they produce loud, grunting sounds.
The sixbar angelfish is occasionally collected for the aquarium trade, though only juveniles are suitable for home tanks because adults grow too large.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Pomacanthus sexstriatus
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The sixbar angelfish was first formally described as Holacanthus sexstriatus in 1831 by the French anatomist Georges Cuvier, with the type locality given as Java. Some authorities place this species in the subgenus Euxiphipops, which was once an independent genus erected in 1934 by the British ichthyologist Alec Fraser-Brunner, but was later synonymized with Pomacanthus. The specific name sexstriatus means 'six-banded', referencing the six vertical bands on the flanks of adults.
Juvenile and adult sixbar angelfish are quite different in appearance. Juveniles have an overall blue-black color broken by many vertical white bands, with anterior bands straight and posterior bands increasingly arced toward the tail. Adults have an overall color of brownish-yellow on the body and median fins, with vivid blue spots, and six vertical bands along the flanks—the first whitish behind the head and the rest black.
The sixbar angelfish is found from Sri Lanka through the Malay Archipelago to the Solomon Islands, and from the Ryukyu Islands and Palau to New Caledonia and Australia. In Australia, its range extends from Shark Bay in Western Australia along the northern coast to the Capricorn and Bunker Group off Queensland, and it is also found around the Rowley Shoals, Scott Reef, and Ashmore Reef. Adults inhabit lagoons and outer reef slopes with rich coral growth at depths between 1–60 m, while juveniles prefer sheltered inner reefs. Adults live in pairs or solitarily and are omnivorous, feeding on macroalgae, sponges, and tunicates. When alarmed, the species can make loud, grunting sounds.
Reader's Guide
The sixbar angelfish is occasionally collected for the aquarium trade, though only juveniles are suitable for home aquaria because adults are too large. Its striking color change from juvenile to adult—from blue-black with white bands to brownish-yellow with blue spots and six dark bands—makes it a notable species among marine angelfish. The species' loud grunting sound when alarmed is an unusual behavioral trait. Its wide distribution across the Indo-Pacific, from Sri Lanka to the Solomon Islands and from the Ryukyu Islands to Australia, reflects its adaptability to various reef habitats. The taxonomic history, including its original description by Georges Cuvier and later placement in the subgenus Euxiphipops, adds to its scientific interest. The sixbar angelfish remains a subject of study for its ecology and is a recognized component of Indo-Pacific reef communities.
Did You Know?
- The sixbar angelfish was first described as Holacanthus sexstriatus by Georges Cuvier in 1831.
- Adults can reach up to 46 cm (18 in) in the wild.
- Juveniles have blue-black color with white bands, while adults are brownish-yellow with blue spots and six vertical bands.
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