Bluegirdle angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Rickard Zerpe · via Wikipedia: Pomacanthus navarchus · CC BY 2.0
Pomacanthus navarchus, the blue-girdled angelfish or majestic angelfish, is a marine angelfish from the Indo-Pacific region. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. P. navarchus is one of the smallest of the larger species of angelfish. It grows to a maximum length of 28 cm, but is usually much smaller than this, and can live to be up to 21 years old.
Younger fish stay closer to the shallows, but the more mature fish can be found up to 120 ft deep. Majestic angelfish eat mainly sponges and tunicates. Juvenile fish are mostly blue in color with white stripes. As they mature, they take on a yellow coloration on the flanks, dorsal fin, and tail.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderAcanthuriformes
- FamilyPomacanthidae
- GenusPomacanthus
- SpeciesPomacanthus navarchus
Named by (F. Cuvier, 1831)
Close relatives
Other species of Pomacanthus with a Codexery entry.
- Emperor angelfish Pomacanthus imperator
- Gray angelfish Pomacanthus arcuatus
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Pomacanthus navarchus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 276024 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
- LC▲ this species
- NT
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.28 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Pomacanthus navarchus
Where the bluegirdle angelfish (pomacanthus navarchus) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (574 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 11 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Pomacanthidae · Genus: Pomacanthus.
Accepted name: Pomacanthus navarchus · Authority: (Cuvier, 1831) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276024.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Euxiphipops navarchus (Cuvier, 1831); Holacanthus navarchus Cuvier, 1831; Pomacanthodes navarchus (Cuvier, 1831).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276024 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Pomacanthus navarchus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 28 cm · Depth range: 3–40 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 18 of 100 · Fishery importance: subsistence fisheries · Aquarium trade: commercial.
FishBase notes: Occurs in coral rich areas of clear lagoons, channels, and protected outer reef slopes. Changes to adult pattern is dramatic, and intermediate stage are rarely seen (Ref. 48636). Often solitary. Feeds on sponges and tunicates. Uncommon (Ref. 9710). Highly prized aquarium export (Ref. 37816).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5661) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pomacanthus-navarchus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
574 georeferenced occurrence records for Pomacanthus navarchus are published through GBIF from 8 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 85 distinct locations from a sample of 574 records, omitting 11 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: Indonesia (382); Solomon Islands (56); Australia (52); Papua New Guinea (44); Philippines (28); Palau (8); Viet Nam (3); Timor-Leste (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Chinese Exclusive Economic Zone.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396407) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396407&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276024 (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 navarchus (Cuvier, 1831) 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 165867) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165867/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396407) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396407/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The body of this fish is laterally flattened. Adult fish have three main colored sections; the anterior section in front of the eyes and the front part of the body is lemon yellow; the central section is funnel-shaped and is deep blue, and the posterior section is reticulated in bright yellow and blue. The sections are separated by pale blue bands edged with black. The mouth and lips are blue as are the rays of the pectoral and anal fins, while the dorsal and caudal fins are yellow, edged with pale blue.
There is a long spine on the gill cover which is used in defence. Juvenile fish are dark blue with slightly curved, white lateral stripes. The change from the juvenile to the adult coloring takes place quite abruptly, with little intermediate coloring.
Pomacanthus navarchus is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region, its range extending from Indonesia and the Philippines to northern and eastern Australia, the Great Barrier Reef, Micronesia, and Hawaii. It can be found at depths down to about 40 m on outer reef slopes, channels and lagoons in coral-rich habitats.
Pomacanthus navarchus is territorial and is generally found alone, but occasionally in pairs or small groups. It inhabits the demersal zone, feeding on sponges, algae, tunicates, zooplankton and small invertebrates. It is a protogynous hermaphrodite, starting adult life as a female and later becoming a male.
Source: Wikipedia: Pomacanthus navarchus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomacanthus_navarchus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Pomacanthus navarchus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: FishBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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