Holacanthus bermudensis
Blue Angelfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)
Holacanthus
Holacanthus bermudensis (Blue Angelfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
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Characters
Subrhomboid in profile, deep bodied, and strongly compressed, with posterior filamentous extensions of dorsal and anal fins. Dorsal profile of head is nearly straight to center of eye and moderately convex from eye to origin of dorsal fin. Snout is blunt. Anterior naris has flap on posterior margin, and posterior naris is elongated. Margin of preorbital bone is serrated. Maxilla fails to reach anterior margin of orbit. Margin of preoperculum has a series of small spines on margin, with spines increasing slightly in size toward corner. Operculum has a very broad, triangular spine on margin. Gill rakers on first arch number 18 to 21. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 30%–32%, snout length 11%–13%, eye diameter 7%–8%, upper jaw length 8%–9%, pectoral fin length 23%–25%, body depth 53%–67%. Pectoral fin has 19 rays. Dorsal fin has 14 spines, with margin behind first 2 spines deeply incised, and 19 to 21 rays. Anal fin has 3 spines (not explicitly stated but implied), and 19 to 21 rays, with membrane between first 2 spines deeply incised. Caudal fin is rounded. Lateral line extends to rear portion of dorsal fin and consists of 45 to 49 pored scales.
Color is bluish tan, scales on side of body have yellow edges, and chest and nape are deep purplish blue. Proximal half of pectoral fin is blue, and dorsal and anal fins are blue tipped, except for attenuated distal extensions that are yellow. Caudal fin has yellow margin. Juveniles are dark blue, with snout, chest, pectoral fin, and pelvic fin yellow. Rear edges of dorsal and anal fin change to yellow with growth. Four long bluish white bars occur on head and body, and second is straight.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from New Jersey (rare) or North Carolina and Bermuda to Yucatán, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, and the Bahamas.
Habitat Associations
Shallow water to 60 m, associated with coral reefs and oil platforms.
Coral reefs and oil platforms
Biology
Maximum known size is 450 mm TL.
Inhabits rocky or coral reefs (Ref. 9710). Juveniles in channels and on inshore reefs (Ref. 9710). Feeds primarily on sponges (Ref. 9710). Small juveniles do well in aquariums once they begin to accept food.
fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2009-10-08. Resilience: Low (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Longley and Hildebrand 1941 (as Holocanthus isabelita)
Böhlke and Chaplin
Allen, G.R. (1985) Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Vol. 2. 3rd edit. in English. Mergus Publishers, Melle, Germany.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Patzner, R.A. (2008) Reproductive strategies of fish. pp. 311-350. In Rocha, M.J., A. Arukwe and B.G. Kapoor (eds). Fish reproduction: cytology, biology and ecology. Science Publisher, Inc. Oxford. 631 p.
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