Reef fish

Emperor Angelfish

Pomacanthus imperator
LC· Least concernCaution

A large, regal angelfish marked with brilliant horizontal blue and yellow stripes and a black eye mask. Juveniles look entirely different, with hypnotic blue-and-white concentric rings. Adults patrol reef walls and caves, feeding on sponges and emitting an audible drumming when alarmed.

Size (typical)
0.3–0.4 mm
Depth range
—
IUCN status
LC
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Diver safety
Maintain distance · do not advance.

Where to see it

22 sites
Daedalus
East Side / Lighthouse Reef
ModerateYear-round
Dahab
Bells
ModerateYear-round
Dahab
Gabr el Bint
ModerateYear-round
Dahab
Umm Sid
ModerateYear-round
El Gouna
El Fanadir North
ModerateYear-round
El Gouna
Sachwa Abu Galawa
ModerateYear-round
El Quseir
El Quseir Wall (El Quadim Drop-off)
ModerateYear-round
Hamata
Abu Galawa Soraya
ModerateYear-round
Hurghada
Gota Abu Ramada (The Aquarium)
ModerateYear-round
Marsa Alam
Abu Dabbab III (Erg)
ModerateYear-round
Marsa Alam
Marsa Shouna
ModerateYear-round
Nuweiba
Bawaki
ModerateYear-round
Sharm El-Sheikh
Far Garden
ModerateYear-round
Sharm El-Sheikh
Ras Bob
ModerateYear-round
Sharm El-Sheikh
Ras Umm Sid
ModerateYear-round
Sharm El-Sheikh
Tower
ModerateYear-round
St John's
Big Gota
HighYear-round
St John's
Gota Soraya
ModerateYear-round
St John's
Umm Aruk
ModerateYear-round
Strait of Gubal
Sha'ab Ali
ModerateYear-round
Taba
Maxwell's Reef
ModerateYear-round
The Brothers
Little Brother East Wall
ModerateYear-round
Verified sightings · last 12 months

Sighting history

Peak: Jan / Jun / Jul
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F
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Total 0Peak 1Lowest 0