Masked angelfish (Genicanthus personatus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Pomacanthidae · Genus: Genicanthus.

Accepted name: Genicanthus personatus · Authority: Randall, 1975 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 279094.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279094 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Genicanthus personatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 21 cm · Depth range: 20–174 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 11 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabits seaward reefs (Ref. 9710). Benthopelagic over rock and sand (Ref. 58302). Minimum depth from Ref. 122680.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7847) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Genicanthus-personatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

313 georeferenced occurrence records for Genicanthus personatus are published through GBIF from 2 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 12 distinct locations from a sample of 313 records, omitting 1 inland record that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (276); United States Minor Outlying Islands (37).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396452) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396452&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=279094 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Genicanthus personatus Randall, 1975 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 165874) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165874/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396452) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396452/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Genicanthus personatus is largely a brilliant white colour at all ages. The juveniles have an area of black colour which covers most of the head. As the fish grows this breaks up starting with the lips which turn bluish white and their caudal fins begin to darken to become black. This species, like all marine angelfish, is a sequential protogynous hermaphrodite and the younger sexually mature adults are all females.

The black on the head reduces in extent. The black eventually only surrounds the eyes, is on the chin and along the edge of the operculum and its operculum spine. They also have yellow pelvic fins. Once they reach a length of 15 to 18 cm they may change sex to males.

When they do so, they develop a vivid orange yellow pigmentation on the pectoral fins and on the whole face as well as on the margins of its dorsal, anal and pelvic fins. The males develop long filamentous extensions to the caudal fin lobes. This species attains a maximum total length of 21 cm.

Distribution

Genicanthus personatus is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, here it is more numerous in the northwestern islands.

Habitat and biology

Genicanthus personatus is found at depths between 10 and 150 m where it occurs over rocky reefs and on the outer slopes of reefs. The diet of this species comprises green algae in the genus Codium as well as planktonic organisms and the eggs of fishes. Like all other angelfish the masked angelfish is a protogynous hermaphrodite, with all individuals being female initially and the dominant ones changing to males.

Systematics

Genicanthus personatus was first formally described in 1975 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall (1924–2020) with the type locality given as Honolulu on Oahu. The specific name personatus means "masked".

Utilisation

Genicanthus personatus is very rare in the aquarium traded down commands high prices. It has been bred in captivity.

Source: Wikipedia: Genicanthus personatus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genicanthus_personatus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.