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Old Woman angelfish (Pomacanthus striatus)

Key facts

Scientific name
Pomacanthus striatus
Common name
Old Woman angelfish
Category
Fish
Family
Pomacanthidae
Genus
Pomacanthus
Size
20–40 cm
Depth
5–50 m
IUCN status
Least concern (LC)
Danger level
Harmless
Habitats
rocky-reef
Behaviours
solitary, pair
Ocean zones
East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea

Description

Pomacanthus striatus reaches 40 cm. Endemic tropical East Atlantic Pomacanthidae (Cape Verde, Senegal to Angola). Gray-bronze to olive-brown body with fine more or less marked dark vertical bands (hence striatus), fins edged with yellow-orange. Juveniles presumably with characteristic black-white-blue patterns of Pomacanthus juveniles. Lives in pairs or solitary from 5 to 50 m on rocky reefs. Rare iNat photos. African endemic cousin of other iconic Pomacanthus: P. paru/arcuatus Caribbean, P. imperator/maculosus Red Sea, P. xanthometopon/navarchus Indo-Pacific, P. zonipectus Eastern Pacific.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Old Woman angelfish?
Old Woman angelfish (Pomacanthus striatus) reaches 20–40 cm in length.
At what depth can you find the Old Woman angelfish?
Old Woman angelfish is found between 5–50 m deep.
Is the Old Woman angelfish dangerous to divers?
Danger level: Harmless.
What is the conservation status of the Old Woman angelfish?
IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
Where can you find the Old Woman angelfish?
Found in: East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.

Other species in the genus Pomacanthus

  • Pomacanthus paru - French angelfish
  • Pomacanthus arcuatus - Gray angelfish
  • Pomacanthus xanthometopon - Yellowmask angelfish
  • Pomacanthus zonipectus - Cortez angelfish
  • Pomacanthus navarchus - Majestic angelfish
  • Pomacanthus sexstriatus - Six-barred Angelfish

Other species in the family Pomacanthidae

  • Holacanthus ciliaris - Queen angelfish
  • Centropyge aurantonotus - Flameback angelfish
  • Holacanthus tricolor - Rock beauty
  • Centropyge bicolor - Bicolor angelfish
  • Pygoplites diacanthus - Regal angelfish
  • Centropyge acanthops - African flameback angelfish

Sources

  • Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 220002)
  • Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2396402)
  • Conservation: IUCN Red List
  • Encyclopedia: Wikipedia