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🌊 Marine Least Concern ⚡ Reports of ciguatera poisoning 🌡️ Subtropical

French angelfish

Pomacanthus paru Bloch, 1787
Max Length
41.1 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
27 yrs
Trophic Level
2.8
Depth
3–100 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Typical Length
28 cm
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Adults are common in shallow reefs usually in pairs, often near sea fans . They feed on sponges, algae, bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonians and tunicates . Oviparous , monogamous . Spawning pairs are strongly territorial, with usually both members vigorously defending their areas against neighboring pairs . Juveniles tend cleaning stations where they service a broad range of clients, including jacks, snappers, morays, grunts, surgeonfishes, and wrasses. At the station the cleaner displays a fluttering swimming and when cleaning it touches the clients with its pelvic fins . Flesh considered good quality; marketed fresh . Has been reared in captivity .

Scientific Name
Pomacanthus paru
Authority
Bloch, 1787
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
41.1 cm
Lifespan
27 years
Depth Range
3–100 m
Latitude
30°S – 33°N
Trophic Level
2.8
Resilience
Low
Vulnerability
39.00/100
Migration
Non-migratory
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 10; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29 - 31; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 22 - 24. Black, the scales of the body , except those at front from nape to abdomen, rimmed with golden yellow; a broad orange-yellow bar at pectoral absent; dorsal filament yellow; chin whitish; outer part of iris yellow; eye narrowly rimmed below with blue : short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for French angelfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for French angelfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Size at Maturity
23.3cm TL

This species manifests apparent permanent pairing and monogamy. During most of the observation period, a single pair swam slowly in a side-to-side orientation at a height of 25 to 75 cm above the reef. No conspicuous courtship displays were evident, nor was there any evidence of sexual identity, i.e., the female was not obviously swollen with eggs. Shortly after sunset, the pair ascended in a broad, shallow arc off the bottom, traversing approximately 7 to 10 m while ascending to a height of 2 to 3 m. As the pair ascended, each angled its body slightly, with their venters in close proximity, if not actually touching. This position was held throughout the peak of the arc, with the pair diverging on the descent. Other pairs in the area were seen making similar arcing movements elsewhere on the reef at approximately the same time. It was difficult to see if there were gametes released in the event. There was no interference between pairs during spawning. Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and social .

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory ; depth range 3 - 100 m . Subtropical; 33°N - 30°S, 99°W - 14°W

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Migration
Non-migratory
Trophic Level
2.8
Food Items

sponges, algae, bryozoans, zoantharians, gorgonians and tunicates (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.03715 × L2.92 (TL)
Max TL
41.1cm
Dorsal Spines
10
Dorsal Rays
30
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
23

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2009

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
39.00/100
Moderate vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.8
Omnivore / Planktivore
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
33°N – 30°S
Described By
Bloch, 1787

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Angelfish · French Angel · French angelfish
🏳️Catalan Peix àngel de les Guyanes
🌍CES pomec paru
🇩🇰Danish Fransk Kejserfisk
🇩🇪German Franzosen-Kaiserfisch · Samtschwarzer Kaiserfisch
🇫🇷French Demoiselle chiririte · Poisson-ange français
🇮🇹Italian Pesce angelo dei Caraibi
🇯🇵Japanese Kihoshi-yakko · キホシヤッコ
🇳🇱Dutch Franse keizersvis
🇵🇱Polish Ustniczek czarny · ustniczek francuski
🇵🇹Portuguese Enxada · Frade · Jandaia · Paru · Paru-da-pedra · Paru-de-pedra · Paru-frade · Paru-listrado · Paru-preto · Parum-dourado · Peixe frade · Peixe-anjo · Peixe-frade
🇷🇺Russian Французский ангел
🌍SLV francoski cesarček
🇪🇸Spanish Banderita · Cachama negra · Isabelita negra · Manai colador · Pez ángel francés · chivirica francesa · gallineta negra · Ángel francés
🇸🇪Swedish Fransk Ängelfisk

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Chaetodon aureus Bloch 1787 Synonym
Chaetodon paru Bloch 1787 Synonym
Pomacanthus aureus Bloch 1787 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 35 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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