Angelfish

• Angelfish, name used for several different fishes, including the true angelfishes and the butterfly fishes.

• Angelfishes differ from butterfly fishes in having a spine near the lower edge of the gill cover.
• These laterally compressed fishes are among the most beautiful of the tropical reef fishes.
• Most species are only a few centimeters long, but some grow to a length of 61 cm (24 in).
• In many species the juveniles and adults are colored differently; the young French angelfish of tropical Atlantic waters is black with bright yellow bands; the adult is predominantly black.
• The well-known queen angelfish is also differently colored as a juvenile.
• Most angelfishes feed on small invertebrates.
• Certain species are often called freshwater angelfish and are popular as aquarium fishes.
• In the United States a spadefish is sometimes incorrectly called an angelfish.

• Scientific classification: Angelfishes belong to the order Perciformes.
• True angelfishes make up the family Pomacanthidae. Butterfly fishes constitute the family Chaetodontidae.
• Freshwater angelfish belong to the family Cichlidae.
• French angelfishes are classified as Pomacanthus paru.
• Queen angelfishes are classified as Holacanthus ciliaris. Spadefishes are classified as Chaetodipterus faber.