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Fish
Least Concern

Emperor Angelfish

Pomacanthus imperator

The emperor angelfish is a reef-associated marine angelfish native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to Hawaii and the Austral Islands. Its populations are stable and it faces no serious extinction risk. The striking, intricate colour pattern makes it a long-standing favourite among photographers, artists and aquarists.

Family

Pomacanthidae

Avg Size

30-40 cm

Habitat

It is found at depths from 1 to 100 metres (3.3 to 328.1 ft). Adults occupy areas of rich coral growth on clear lagoon, channel or seaward reefs, where they are usually seen tucked beneath ledges and inside caves. Subadults often shelter in reef cavities and along surge channels on seaward reefs, while juveniles hide below ledges, in reef hollows and in sheltered spots in channels and over outer reef flats.

Behaviour

Its diet consists of sponges, tunicates and other encrusting organisms. The species forms pairs, and both juveniles and adults may behave as cleaner fish, picking ectoparasites off larger fishes. When alarmed, it can produce a knocking sound.

Emperor Angelfish

Where & When to See It

Erg Somaya

occasional
Year Round

Hamda

occasional
Year Round

El Fanous West

occasional
Year Round

El Mina Wreck

occasional
Year Round

Small Giftun

occasional
Year Round

Ras Disha

occasional
Year Round

Big Giftun

occasional
Year Round

Erg Sabina

occasional
Year Round

Shaab Petra

occasional
Year Round

Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)

occasional
Year Round

Abu Hashish

occasional
Year Round

Abu Ramada North

occasional
Year Round

Shaab Eissa

occasional
Year Round

Fury Shoals

occasional
Year Round

Turft El Shahed

occasional
Year Round

Shaab Eshta

occasional
Year Round

Banana Reef

occasional
Year Round

Shaab Sabina

occasional
Year Round

Abu Ramada South

occasional
Year Round

Gota Abu Ramada

occasional
Year Round

Belina Wreck

occasional
Year Round

El Erug

occasional
Year Round

Erg Abu Ramada

occasional
Year Round

Habili Ali

common
Year Round

Habili Gaffar

common
Year Round

Jackfish Alley

common
Year Round

Jackson Reef

common
Year Round

Kimon M

common
Year Round

Lighthouse

common
Year Round

Little Brother Island

common
Year Round

Moray Garden - Golden Blocks

common
Year Round

Napoleon Reef

common
Year Round

Near Garden

common
Year Round

North Gabr El Bint

common
Year Round

Numidia

common
Year Round

Panorama Reef

common
Year Round

Paradise

common
Year Round

Pinky Wall

common
Year Round

Ras Abu Helal

common
Year Round

Ras Bob

common
Year Round

Ras Burg

common
Year Round

Ras Ghamila

common
Year Round

Ras Ghozlani

common
Year Round

Ras Nasrani

common
Year Round

Ras Um Sid

common
Year Round

Ras Zaatar

common
Year Round

Rosalie Moller

common
Year Round

Salem Express

common
Year Round

Sha'ab Sharm

common
Year Round

Shaab Abu Nugar

common
Year Round

Shaab El Erg

common
Year Round

Shaab Maksur

common
Year Round

Shaab Sataya

common
Year Round

Shark & Yolanda Reef

common
Year Round

Shark Observatory

common
Year Round

Shark's Bay

common
Year Round

Siyul Kebira

common
Year Round

Soma Bay Garden

common
Year Round

SS Turkia

common
Year Round

The Canyon

common
Year Round

The Ulysses

common
Year Round

Thistlegorm

common
Year Round

Thomas Reef

common
Year Round

Tower

common
Year Round

Turtle Bay

common
Year Round

Turtle Reef

common
Year Round

Umm Gamar North

common
Year Round

Umm Gamar South

common
Year Round

Woodhouse Reef

common
Year Round

El Fanadir

common
Year Round

Kormoran

common
Year Round

Laguna Reef

common
Year Round

Middle Garden

common
Year Round

Ras Katy

common
Year Round

Shaab Claudia

common
Year Round

Shabrur Um Gamar

common
Year Round

Shag Rock (Kingston)

common
Year Round

Small Crack

common
Year Round

Sodfa

common
Year Round

South Ras Abu Galum

common
Year Round

Temple

common
Year Round

The Alternatives

common
Year Round

The Barge at Bluff Point

common
Year Round

The Caves

common
Year Round

The Islands

common
Year Round

Three Pools

common
Year Round

Umm Kharalim

common
Year Round

White Knight

common
Year Round

Abu Dabbab

common
Year Round

North Ras Abu Galum

common
Year Round

Abu Ghalawa

common
Year Round

Abu Kifan

common
Year Round

Abu Nuhas

common
Year Round

Aida

common
Year Round

Amphoras

common
Year Round

Big Brother Island

common
Year Round

Blue Hole - El Bells

common
Year Round

Bluff Point

common
Year Round

Careless Reef

common
Year Round

Carnatic

common
Year Round

Chrisoula K

common
Year Round

Daedalus Reef

common
Year Round

Dunraven (Beacon Rock)

common
Year Round

Eel Garden

common
Year Round

Eel Gardens

common
Year Round

Elphinstone

common
Year Round

Far Garden

common
Year Round

Fiddle Garden

common
Year Round

Giannis D

common
Year Round

Gordon Reef

common
Year Round

Gota Kebir

common
Year Round

Gota Soraya

common
Year Round

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