Species: Pomacanthus xanthometopon, Blue-face Angelfish, Yellow-mask Angelfish

Pomacanthus xanthometopon (Bleeker, 1853)

Yellow-mask Angelfish, Blue-face Angelfish

Deep, almost circular, compressed body; head deep, snout short; mouth small, with brush-like teeth; preopercle with a large spine at its angle, with vertical margin smooth; bone between preopercle and operculum without spines; bone under eye without large, rear-pointing spines; dorsal fin un-notched, XIII-XIV, 16-17; anal rays III, 16-18; front soft rays of dorsal and anal fin both without filaments; tail fin rounded; body with large and small scales, irregularly arranged, very rough, with distinct ridges on the exposed part, 46-52 lateral scales; scales extend out onto the median fins; without "axillary process" (an enlarged scale) at the base of the pelvic fins; lateral line complete.

Adult: body scales blue, with yellow edges; breast gold; head blue, with gold spots on cheek, eye in a gold blotch; tail fin and rear of dorsal fin yellow; a dark spot at lower rear of dorsal fin. Juvenile: black, with 6 prominent thin white bars that curve at top and bottom; edges of body and fins blue; tail dark, with blue bars.

Size: to 38 cm.

Habitat: coral rich areas in lagoons, channels and outer reefs.

Depth: 5-30 m.

Indo-west Pacific: introduced to southeast Florida.