Yellowface angelfish (Pomacanthus xanthometopon)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Pomacanthus xanthometopon · Authority: (Bleeker, 1853) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 276027.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Euxiphipops xanthometopon (Bleeker, 1853); Holacanthus xanthometopon Bleeker, 1853.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276027 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 38 cm · Depth range: 5–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 28 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Found in coral rich areas of lagoons, channels, and outer reef slopes. Often near caves (Ref. 9710). Juveniles settle in very shallow inshore caves with algae growth (Ref. 48636).

Usually solitary. Feeds on sponges and other encrusting organisms (Ref. 6113) and tunicates. Occasionally exported through the aquarium trade (Ref. 48391). Individuals under 20 cm in length are best adapted to tank life (Ref. 4907).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 5662) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Pomacanthus-xanthometopon.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

696 georeferenced occurrence records for Pomacanthus xanthometopon are published through GBIF from 25 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 123 distinct locations from a sample of 696 records, omitting 20 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 (221); Maldives (115); Australia (108); Malaysia (60); Palau (55); Philippines (39); Solomon Islands (34); Papua New Guinea (18); Micronesia (Federated States of) (14); India (5); Thailand (4); Guadeloupe (3); Madagascar (2); Mauritius (2); Mexico (2).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Florida; Chinese Exclusive Economic Zone.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396411) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396411&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=276027 (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 xanthometopon (Bleeker, 1853) 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 165829) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165829/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396411) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396411/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Pomacanthus xanthometopon was first formally described in 1853 as Holocanthus xanthometopon by the Dutch ichthyologist and herpetologist Pieter Bleeker (1819–1878) with the type locality given as Telok betong, Sumatra in Indonesia. The species is placed by some authorities in the subgenus Euxiphipops,. The specific name of this species, xantometopon means "yellow forehead", a reference to the yellow "mask" across its eyes.

Distribution and habitat

Pomacanthus xanthometopon is found on coral reefs in the eastern part of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its range includes the Maldive Islands, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, northern Australia and Micronesia.

It has occasionally been observed off the coast of Florida. It favours lagoons, outer reef slopes and channels at depths down to about 25 m and is often found among rocks and near caves. The juveniles frequently live inside caves.

Description

Pomacanthus xanthometopon grows to a maximum length of 38 cm and is laterally compressed. The mouth is just above the tip of the snout. The fins are large and rounded and are yellow, some edged with blue round the margins. The dorsal fin is set just in front of the caudal region, has a distinctive black eyespot at the base and has 13–14 spines and 16–18 soft rays.

The anal fin has 3 spines and 16–18 soft rays. The scales are pale blue edged with yellow giving a reticulated pattern. The face is yellow with a dense network of brilliant blue lines on the bottom half and a plain yellow mask around the eyes. Juveniles are quite differently coloured with 6 vertical white bars separated by pale blue lines and a caudal fin barred in 2 shades of blue.

The juveniles change colour gradually after reaching a length of 7 to 12 cm. This species can be confused with the queen angelfish (Holacanthus ciliaris) or the blue angelfish (Holacanthus bermudensis), but both these have a completely blue face and lack the caudal eyespot.

Biology

Pomacanthus xanthometopon usually lives singly or in pairs and feeds on tunicates, sponges, other encrusting organisms and algae. It is an egg-laying species and scatters its eggs on the seabed.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species considers the yellowface angelfish of least concern because it is common over most of its wide range and has no major threats.

Utilisation

Pomacanthus xanthometopon is uncommon in the aquarium trade, those specimens which make their way into that trade are usually traded through dealers in the Philippines and Singapore.

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