The creatures of our world: Queen Angelfish, the majestic blue swimmers of the ocean

*Every tuesday the blog will be about nature. The post will either be titled "The creatures of our world" or "Life inside green hideouts", speaking about animals and respectively plants. 

The blue queen

Let's do an imagination test: how accurately can you visualise the characteristics of this fish just by reading its name? If you need a hint, their scientific name is Holacanthus ciliaris. 

Not as "majestic" as you thought, is it? The name "Queen Angelfish" comes from the specked blue dot they have on their heads that resembles a crown. The only thing that actually makes them seem majestic is their blue and yellow colors that makes them easily blend in into exotic corals.

(And no, that's not Dory, Dory is Pacific Blue Tangs, click to see wikipedia)

Personality & Relationship  characteristics

You can see the anger in their face... is that just how they look or are they REALLY angry? 

Well, with other Queen Angelfish they do tend to be more aggresive to scare away the others from their territory.

"They are shy fish, found either alone or often in pairs in the warm waters of the Caribbean and western Atlantic." (National Geographic says)
These type of fish are "schooling" (click to see on wikipedia) but they are usually found alone or with their mate. "Queen angels are close relatives of the equally striking blue angelfish. In fact, these two species are known to mate, forming natural hybrids, a very rare occurrence among angelfish." 

I'm happy to say that these fish have a stable population and that they are not under the threat of extinction. 

Lifespan & diet

These fish can live up to 15 years, in case groupers, snappers, barracudas, or sharks catch up to them.
Queen Angelfish are omnivores that primarily eat sponges, algae, and tunicates, also consuming jellyfish, corals, and plankton, but when they're REALLY hungry, they can feed off of other fish. In that case they prefer smaller fish like neon tetra or invertebrates like shrimp.

Specific characteristics:

Common Name: Queen Angelfish

Scientific Name: Holacanthus ciliaris

Type: Fish

Diet: Omnivore

Group Name: School

Average Life Span In The Wild: Up to 15 years

Size: Up to 18 inches

Weight: Up to 3.5 pounds(source: National Geographic)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This fish is another reason for us to go explore the oceans and protect them. Many fish like this exist and we have to remember:we're not the only creatures that feel on Earth. Let's protect what we have.Here's a funny pic of the Queen Angelfish"(ik, why isn't it a meme already?)