Regal Angelfish
Pygoplites diacanthus
Strikingly banded angelfish of coral-rich slopes and caves.
Family
Pomacanthidae
Avg Size
25-30 cm
Habitat
The regal angelfish is broadly distributed across the Indo-Pacific. It occurs from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean around East Africa and the Maldives eastward to the Tuamotu Islands, New Caledonia, and the Great Barrier Reef, with its northern limit reaching the southern East China Sea near Taiwan and Japan's Ryukyu and Ogasawara Islands.
Behaviour
Found at depths from the surface down to about 80 m (262 ft), it favours coral-rich lagoons and reefs and is often seen near caves. This carnivore feeds on sponges and tunicates growing across reefs and within caves. Non-migratory, it may live alone, in pairs, or in small groups, while juveniles tend to stay hidden in cracks and crevices.
Where & When to See It
Thistlegorm
Abu Ghalawa
Abu Kifan
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
Aida
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Big Brother Island
Big Giftun
Bluff Point
Careless Reef
Carnatic
Chrisoula K
Daedalus Reef
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Eel Garden
Turft El Shahed
El Fanous West
Erg Abu Ramada
Giannis D
Gota Abu Ramada
Habili Ali
Little Brother Island
Panorama Reef
Ras Nasrani
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Petra
Shaab Sataya
Shabrur Um Gamar
Thomas Reef
Abu Dabbab
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Mina Wreck
Elphinstone
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Far Garden
Fiddle Garden
Fury Shoals
Gordon Reef
Gota Kebir
Gota Soraya
Habili Gaffar
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kimon M
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Middle Garden
Near Garden
Numidia
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Katy
Ras Um Sid
Ras Zaatar
Rocky Island
Rosalie Moller
Salem Express
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Claudia
Shaab Eissa
Shaab El Erg
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sabina
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark Observatory
Shark's Bay
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Small Giftun
Sodfa
Soma Bay Garden
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Ulysses
Tower
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar North
Umm Gamar South
Umm Kharalim
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Zabargad Island
Abu Hashish
Abu Nuhas
Eel Gardens
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Three Pools
The Canyon
Ras Abu Helal
The Caves
The Islands
Lighthouse
South Ras Abu Galum
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Napoleon Reef
Blue Hole - El Bells
North Gabr El Bint
North Ras Abu Galum