The queen angelfish has a morphology similar to the French angelfish and the gray angelfish, but with some of the most vibrant colors. The queen angelfish is a large fish that averages about 12 inches in length, with a maximum size of around 16 inches.

The queen angelfish has a flattened, disk-shaped body extended by a single continuous dorsal fin and an anal fin, both ending in a long, sharply pointed yellow tip.

The queen angelfish is the most majestic of the angelfishes, with its golden-yellow coloration and bluish highlights. A bluish edging enhances its silhouette and outlines various parts of its body. In contrast, its tail, pectoral fins, and pelvic fins are entirely yellow. The front of its head is bright blue.

But beware, the queen angelfish only wears this splendid coloration as an adult! As a juvenile, it looks completely different! A wide deep-blue band, several bright blue vertical stripes, and a yellow area on the lower part of its body at the level of the pectoral and pelvic fins are present, but these markings gradually fade with age.

The queen angelfish is found in the warm tropical waters of the western Atlantic ocean, from Florida in the north down to the coasts of Brazil in the south. It is also present in the Gulf of Mexico and along the shores of the many islands bordering the Caribbean sea, such as the Bahamas and Guadeloupe.

The queen angelfish inhabits shallow waters — from the surface down to about 65 feet — of coral reefs, where it roams in search of its favorite food, sponges. At nightfall, the reef provides shelter from predators. The queen angelfish can also be found at depths of up to about 230 feet.

The queen angelfish lives alone or in pairs.

The queen angelfish feeds mainly on sponges but also supplements its diet with algae and invertebrates such as gorgonian polyps.

The queen angelfish is oviparous and reproduces sexually.

This angelfish owes its « royal » status to the bluish ring on the top of its head, which resembles a crown! At its center, bright blue spots illuminate the deep blue background that fills it.

The queen angelfish is listed as many other marine species within The IUCN Red List of threatened species. The queen angelfish appears in the IUCN Red List since 2010 within the category Least Concern !

The queen angelfish is much less approachable than the French angelfish or the gray angelfish. Move gently and avoid sudden movements if you hope to see it up close !