Appearance and lifestyle:
The semicircle angelfish (Pomacanthus semicirculatus) is a narrow, oblong fish with a greenish-yellow or yellow-brown body covered in dark blue spots everywhere excepts its face and pectoral fins. It has a vivid blue margin on its fins, gill covers and eye. Juveniles are black with white, semi-circular lines radiating out from its tail - and from this pattern it gets its name. In adult semicircle angelfish, both the dorsal and anal fins are tailed by bright blue or yellow filaments.
All about angelfish:
There are over 80 species of angelfish, 11 of which are found off southern Africa. Angelfish are underwater artworks – displaying spectacular colours and patterns. Most angelfish change their colours and patterns as they grow. Sexual dimorphism is common; males and females display different colours and markings – often so much so that they look like completely different fish! Angelfish are not such angels – they have a secret weapon in the form of a sharp spine on each gill cover, which they use to defend themselves and to wedge themselves into cracks on the reef.
Habitat:
Semicircle angelfish are solitary, inhabiting coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Juveniles are found in rock pools and in the waters of the Agulhas current.
Diet:
They hunt various small zooplankton.
Threats:
Habitat loss, pollution, climate change etc.