Yellowface angelfish
A marine angelfish with a yellow mask and blue-lined face.
The yellowface angelfish, also called the blueface angelfish, is a marine ray-finned fish from the family Pomacanthidae. It lives in shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific and is known for its vivid facial markings.
Dutch scientist Pieter Bleeker first described this species in 1853, naming it *Holocanthus xanthometopon* based on a specimen from Telok Betong, Sumatra, Indonesia. The scientific name means "yellow forehead," referring to the yellow band across its eyes. Some experts place it in the subgenus *Euxiphipops*.
This fish inhabits coral reefs in the eastern tropical Indo-Pacific, from the Maldives and Malaysia to Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, northern Australia, and Micronesia. It has occasionally been spotted off Florida. It prefers lagoons, outer reef slopes, and channels down to about 25 meters deep, often around rocks and near caves. Juveniles frequently hide inside caves.
Adults reach a maximum length of 38 centimeters and have a laterally compressed body. The mouth sits just above the snout tip. The large, rounded fins are yellow, with some edged in blue. The dorsal fin, located just ahead of the tail, has a black eyespot at its base and contains 13–14 spines and 16–18 soft rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 16–18 soft rays. The scales are pale blue with yellow edges, creating a net-like pattern. The face is yellow, with a dense network of bright blue lines on the lower half and a plain yellow mask around the eyes. Juveniles look very different: they have six vertical white bars separated by pale blue lines, and a tail fin barred in two shades of blue. They gradually change color once they reach 7 to 12 centimeters in length. This species can be mistaken for the queen angelfish or the blue angelfish, but those species have entirely blue faces and lack the eyespot on the tail.
The yellowface angelfish usually lives alone or in pairs. It feeds on tunicates, sponges, other encrusting organisms, and algae. It lays eggs, scattering them on the seabed. The IUCN lists it as least concern, as it is common across most of its wide range and faces no major threats.
This fish is uncommon in the aquarium trade. When available, specimens are typically traded through dealers in the Philippines and Singapore.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Pomacanthus xanthometopon
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pomacanthus xanthometopon was first formally described in 1853 by Dutch ichthyologist and herpetologist Pieter Bleeker, who named it Holocanthus xanthometopon. The specific name means 'yellow forehead', referencing the yellow 'mask' across its eyes. Some authorities place it in the subgenus Euxiphipops.
The species grows to a maximum length of 38 cm and is laterally compressed, with large rounded fins. Its scales are pale blue edged with yellow, creating a reticulated pattern. The face is yellow with a dense network of brilliant blue lines on the lower half and a plain yellow mask around the eyes. Juveniles are differently coloured, with six vertical white bars separated by pale blue lines and a barred caudal fin; they change colour gradually after reaching 7 to 12 cm in length. It can be confused with the queen angelfish or blue angelfish, but both lack the caudal eyespot and have a completely blue face.
Reader's Guide
The yellowface angelfish is found on coral reefs in the eastern tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Maldive Islands, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, northern Australia, and Micronesia, with occasional observations off the coast of Florida. It favours lagoons, outer reef slopes, and channels down to about 25 metres, often among rocks and near caves; juveniles frequently live inside caves. It usually lives singly or in pairs and feeds on tunicates, sponges, other encrusting organisms, and algae. It is an egg-laying species that scatters its eggs on the seabed. The IUCN Red List considers it of least concern because it is common over most of its wide range and has no major threats. In the aquarium trade, it is uncommon, with specimens typically traded through dealers in the Philippines and Singapore.
Did You Know?
- The specific name xanthometopon means 'yellow forehead'.
- It has occasionally been observed off the coast of Florida.
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