FishCommonVisible while snorkeling

Emperor angelfish

Pomacanthus imperator

In its blue-and-yellow striped regalia, the emperor angelfish patrols the reef wall as if it truly ruled the place.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) is one of the most magnificent fish of the coral reef: adults carry 25–30 horizontal blue-and-yellow stripes, a black mask across the eyes and a sharp spine on the gill cover. Juveniles, by contrast, wear white concentric rings on a dark blue body – patterns so different that the two were long believed to be separate species.

It feeds mainly on sponges and tunicates, which few other fish can digest, giving it a special role in the life of the reef. It is territorial: males patrol reef sections of several hundred square metres, and when disturbed they produce a deep, drumming thump that divers can clearly hear through the water.

Around Hurghada an emperor angelfish appears on nearly every dive in the 5–25 metre zone of walls and coral gardens, typically cruising the reef at a stately, even pace. It does not flee from divers but insists on its personal space – follow it slowly, from the side, and it will reward you with beautiful shots.

Did you know?

Juvenile and adult emperor angelfish look so different – blue-and-white rings versus blue-and-yellow stripes – that science long described them as two separate species. When startled, it produces a deep, drum-like sound.

Where can you meet it?

We meet it regularly along the reef walls of the Giftun Islands, in the coral gardens of Abu Ramada and on the plateau of Carless Reef.

Frequently asked questions

It poses no danger whatsoever to divers. It firmly defends its territory against other fish and carries a sharp spine on its gill cover, but that is reserved for rivals and predators. The worst you will get is a dignified turn away if you come too close.

On nearly every reef, all year round: it is most frequent along the Giftun walls, in the gardens of Abu Ramada and on the Carless Reef plateau. Look for it in the 5–25 metre zone, patrolling among the corals at its slow, even pace.

The juveniles' blue-and-white ringed pattern is most likely protective: territorial adults do not recognise them as future rivals and tolerate them within their patch. The fish only gradually "puts on" its imperial stripes as it matures.