Yellowbar angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Pomacanthus maculosus · Authority: (Forsskål, 1775) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 220005.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Chaetodon asfur var. caerulescens Forsskål, 1775; Chaetodon maculosus Forsskål, 1775; Holacanthus aruset Lacepède, 1802; Holacanthus caerulescens (Forsskål, 1775); Holacanthus striatus Rüppell, 1836; Pomacanthodes aruset (Lacepède, 1802); Pomacanthodes caerulescens (Forsskål, 1775); Pomacanthodes coerulescens (Forsskål, 1775); Pomacanthodes haddaja Cuv., 1831; Pomacanthodes lineatus Ruppell, 1828; Pomacanthodes maculosus (Forsskål, 1775); Pomacanthodes striatus (Rüppell, 1836); Pomacanthops filamentosus Smith, 1955; Pomacanthus caerulescens (Forsskål, 1775); Pomacanthus striatus (Rüppell, 1836).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=220005 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 50 cm · Common length: 20 cm · Depth range: 4–60 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 44.2 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: More often in silty reef areas than in rich coral growth (Ref. 30573). Minimum depth reported taken from Ref. 9710. Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 127989.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7903) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pomacanthus-maculosus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

716 georeferenced occurrence records for Pomacanthus maculosus are published through GBIF from 29 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 90 distinct locations from a sample of 716 records, omitting 31 inland records 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: Egypt (362); Saudi Arabia (96); United Arab Emirates (85); Oman (57); Djibouti (22); Israel (13); Sudan (10); United States of America (10); Eritrea (9); Mozambique (9); Iran (Islamic Republic of) (6); Kenya (6); Kuwait (6); Qatar (4); Malta (3).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Red Sea; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; Djiboutian Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country); Somali Exclusive Economic Zone; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Madagascar; Lebanese part of the Mediterranean Sea - Eastern Basin; Florida; Brazilian part of the South Atlantic Ocean; Maltese part of the Mediterranean Sea - Eastern Basin; Israeli part of the Mediterranean Sea - Eastern Basin.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396444) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396444&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=220005 (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 Pomacanthus maculosus (Forsskål, 1775) 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 165833) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165833/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396444) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396444/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Pomacanthus maculosus has a deep and compressed body with a small mouth that is equipped with small bristle-like teeth. They have an obvious spine at the angle of the preoperculum. The adults have filaments extending back from the soft-rayed parts of the dorsal and anal fins, reaching past the caudal fin. The background colour of adults is brownish blue with each scale having a blue margin creating the impression that it is predominantly blue.

There is an uneven, yellow bar close to the centre of the flanks with dark blue, vertically elongated spots towards the head. The caudal fin has wavy, blue lines on a pale yellow background. The juveniles are mainly black marked with many, arced, vertical blue lines and three broader white lines. Only the rear third of the caudal fin is yellow.

The dorsal fin has 12–13 spines and 21 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 19–20 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 50 cm.

Distribution

Pomacanthus maculosus is found in the Red Sea, Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. It has been recorded on distinct but uncommon occasions since 2008 in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It has also been recorded off Florida and Brazil, regarded as an instance of deliberate releases from an aquarium.

Habitat and biology

Pomacanthus maculosus is found at depths of between 4 and 50 m. It is a solitary species that lives in sheltered areas, often where there is a mixture of coral and silt. Their diet is dominated by sponges and tunicates, although other invertebrates will be eaten opportunistically. The females attain sexual maturity when they reach around 5.5 years of age and a total length of 21.6 cm.

The maximum longevity is thought to be 36 years old. Divers have noted that this is a curious species and is not shy. They are protogynous hermaphrodites and the older females can change sex to become males when there is a shortage of males. The larvae are planktonic.

Systematics

Pomacanthus maculosus was first formally described in 1775 as Chaetodon maculosus in 1775 by the Finnish born Swede Peter Forsskål (1732–1763) the type locality is given as Al-Luhayya, Yemen. Some authorities place this species in the subgenus Arusetta. The specific name maculosus means "spotted" and a reference to either the blue spots on the scales or the large yellow blotch.

Utilisation

Pomacanthus maculosus is occasionally collected for the aquarium trade. In some parts of the Persian Gulf it has been recorded in fish markets.

Source: Wikipedia: Pomacanthus maculosus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomacanthus_maculosus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.