Pomacanthus arcuatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Gray angelfish
Pomacanthus arcuatus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Pomacanthidae (Angelfishes)
Max. size:  60 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,830.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 60 m, non-migratory
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New England, USA to the vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean (Ref. 26938).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 9-9; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31-33; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 23-25. Pale gray around mouth, and pale gray margin on caudal fin. Inside of pectoral fin yellow (Ref. 26938). Juveniles are black with two light yellow bars on body and three on head; caudal fin yellow with a vertically elongate, nearly rectangular or hemispherical black spot in middle (Ref. 13442).
Biology:  Maximum depth from Ref. 126840. Common in coral reefs, usually solitary, occasionally in pairs. Juveniles are part-time cleaners. Feed mainly on sponges, but also takes tunicates, algae, zoantharians, gorgonians, hydroids, bryozoans, and seagrasses. Oviparous (Ref. 240), monogamous (Ref. 52884). Flesh reported to be of excellent quality (Ref. 3797); marketed fresh and salted (Ref. 5217). Friendly toward divers (Ref. 9710). Have been reared in captivity (Ref. 35419).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 October 2009 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  reports of ciguatera poisoning


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