English Name: Blue-faced angelfish
Family: POMACANTHIDAE
Local Name: Boa reendhoo kokaamas
Order: Perciformes
Size: Max. 45 cm
Specimen: MRS/P0395/92
Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 13-14 spines and 16-18 rays. Anal fin with 3 spines and 16-18 rays. 46-52 lateral line scales.
Colour: Face blue with dark spots. Broad yellow band between eyes (giving rise to alternate English name, Yellow-mask angelfish). Body scales dark with yellow edges giving a somewhat greeny appearance overall. Pectoral, dorsal and caudal fins yellow. All fins blue edged. Juveniles black with narrow white bars andblue lines which are curved posteriorly at upper and lower ends.
Habitat and Biology: Adults usually found adjacent to steep drop-offs or in protected lagoons at depths of 5-25 m. Solitary in habit. Feeds on soft corals and sponges.
Distribution: Maldives to Western Pacific.
Remarks: Pomacanthus xanthometopon is one of the most spectacular of Maldivian reef fishes.
Juveniles are exported as aquarium fish, hut its large adult size means that it is only really suitable for big public aquaria.