Members of the Pomacanthidae family vary in size, though the majority of species are no longer than 30 centimeters in length. They primarily inhabit coral reef environments, using the nooks and crannies to escape from predators. These fish have a flattened, oval-shaped body, along with a protruding mouth that has a unique protrusile mechanism, allowing them to extend their mouth to reach crevices.
Pomacanthids come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, depending on the species. Some species, such as the Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) have bright blue and yellow markings, while others, like the Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa), have more subtle shades of pink, orange, and white. Many species also have distinctive facial markings, such as a black mask around the eyes.
The angelfish species also vary in behavior depending on the species. Some are territorial, while others live in small groups or pairs. Many are omnivores, feeding on a variety of small invertebrates, such as plankton, algae, and small crustaceans, while some species are coral feeders, focusing their diet on various coral species.
Here is a list of the 9 genera in Pomacanthidae:
- *Apolemichthys*
- *Centropyge*
- *Chaetodontoplus*
- *Holacanthus*
- *Paracentropyge*
- *Pomacanthus*
- *Pygoplites*
- *Genicanthus*
- *Hemitaurichthys*