Pomacanthus arcuatus
Gray Angelfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)
Pomacanthus
Pomacanthus arcuatus (Gray 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
Oval in profile, deep bodied, and strongly compressed, with long filaments extending from dorsal and anal fins, scales irregular in size and shape. Dorsal profile of head is slightly convex. Snout is moderately blunt. Anterior naris has flap on posterior margin, and posterior naris is oval. Maxilla fails to reach anterior margin of orbit, and lower jaw projects beyond upper jaw. Margin of preoperculum has a series of very small spines on margin. Operculum has a very broad, rounded process on margin. Gill rakers on first arch number 17 to 19. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 27%–31%, snout length 11%–13%, eye diameter 7%–10%, upper jaw length about 8%, pectoral fin length 23%–25%, body depth 71%–77%. Pectoral fin has 19 or 20 rays. Dorsal fin has nine spines and 31 to 33 rays. Anal fin has 23 to 25 rays. Posterior margins of dorsal and anal fins are evenly convex. Caudal fin is convex in juveniles and truncate, with acute upper and lower corners, in adults. Lateral line is moderately arched and extends to base of caudal fin.
Color is gray to brownish, with lips and chin cream colored; medial side of pectoral fin yellowish; and posterior margins of dorsal, anal, and caudal fins yellow to transparent. Juveniles are blackish to dark brown, with four yellow bands on head and body, a median yellow stripe on nape extending to chin, and a rectangular to hemispherical black spot on caudal fin. Yellow bands may persist in small adults.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from New York to Brazil, including the northern and southern Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Shallow water
Biology
Maximum depth from Ref. 126840. Common in coral reefs, usually solitary, occasionally in pairs. Juveniles are part-time cleaners. Feed mainly on sponges, but also takes tunicates, algae, zoantharians, gorgonians, hydroids, bryozoans, and seagrasses. Oviparous (Ref. 240), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Flesh reported to be of excellent quality (Ref. 3797); marketed fresh and salted (Ref. 5217). Friendly toward divers (Ref. 9710). Have been reared in captivity (Ref. 35419).
Max length: 60.0 cm TL; common length: 45.0 cm TL; max weight: 1830 g.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; mating system: monogamy; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. Monogamous mating is observed as both facultative and social (Ref. 52884).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2009-10-08. Resilience: Very low (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Randall, J.E. (1967) Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies. Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami 5:665-847.
Thresher, R.E. (1984) Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Neptune City, New Jersey. 399 p.
Burgess, W.E. (1978) Pomacanthidae. In W. Fischer (ed.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). Vol. 3. [var. pag.] FAO, Rome.
Allen, G.R. (1985) Butterfly and angelfishes of the world. Vol. 2. 3rd edit. in English. Mergus Publishers, Melle, Germany.
Cervigón, F. (1993) Los peces marinos de Venezuela. Volume 2. Fundación Científica Los Roques, Caracas,Venezuela. 497 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.
Whiteman, E.A. and I.M. Côté (2004) Monogamy in marine fishes. Biol. Rev. 79:351-375.
Comments On Pomacanthus arcuatus