Pomacanthus imperator (Bloch, 1787)

Emperor angelfish
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Pomacanthus imperator   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Perciformes (Perch-likes) > Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)
Etymology: Pomacanthus: Greek, poma, -atos = cover, operculum + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335).  More on author: Bloch.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 100 m (Ref. 48391).   Tropical; 31°N - 28°S, 32°E - 144°W

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Hawaiian, Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan and the Ogasawara Islands, south to the Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, and the Austral Islands (Ref. 33390). Not found in Easter Island, Rapa and the Marquesan Islands (Ref. 48391).

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 40.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30573); max. reported age: 14 years (Ref. 72479)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 14; Dorsal soft rays (total): 17-21; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 18 - 21.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Juveniles are encountered under ledges, or in holes of outer lagoon patch reefs or semi-protected areas of exposed channels and outer reef flats. Subadults move to reef front holes and surge channels. Large adults inhabit ledges and caves in areas of rich coral growth on clear lagoon, channel, or seaward reefs (Ref. 6113). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on sponges and other encrusting organisms (Ref. 6113); also on tunicates. Form pairs. Young and adults may clean much larger fishes such as sunfish (Ref. 48636). Frequently exported through the aquarium trade. Juveniles are distinguished by a white dorsal-fin margin (Ref. 48391).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Myers, R.F., 1991. Micronesian reef fishes. Second Ed. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 298 p. (Ref. 1602)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 120744)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 08 October 2009

CITES (Ref. 118484)

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Harmless





Human uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
FAO(Publication : search) | FishSource | Sea Around Us

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Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 24.6 - 29, mean 27.9 (based on 1496 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82805):  PD50 = 0.5001   [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.04677 (0.02566 - 0.08525), b=2.89 (2.73 - 3.05), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).
Trophic Level (Ref. 69278):  2.7   ±0.00 se; Based on food items.
Generation time: 16.4 ( na - na) years. Estimated as median LN(3)/K based on 1 growth studies.
Resilience (Ref. 120179):  Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Vulnerability (Ref. 59153):  High to very high vulnerability (68 of 100) .
Price category (Ref. 80766):   High.