Holacanthus, from Ancient Greek ὅλος (hólos), meaning "full", and ἄκανθα (ákantha), meaning "spine", is a genus of marine angelfishes (family Pomacanthidae). The eight species are particularly abundant near volcanic rocks and coral islands. Some are highly valued as food, but even more so for aquaria, as all are brightly colored.

Species The following species are classified within the genus Holacanthus: Image Scientific name Common name Distribution H. africanus Cadenat, 1951 Guinean angelfishcoast of tropical West Africa, in the warmer sections of the eastern Atlantic Ocean. H. bermudensis Goode, 1876 Bermuda blue angelfish western Atlantic from North Carolina to Bermuda, into the Bahamas and Florida to the Gulf of Mexico, and also to Yucatán, Mexico. H. ciliaris (Linnaeus, 1758) Queen angelfish Florida Keys, and also the Bahamas and the Gulf of MexicoH. clarionensis Gilbert, 1891 Clarion angelfish Pacific coast of Mexico H. limbaughi Baldwin, 1963 Clipperton angelfish Pacific – eastern central H. passer Valenciennes, 1846 King angelfish eastern Pacific Ocean from the coast of Peru north to the California gulf, including offshore islands as far west as the Galapagos,H. tricolor (Bloch, 1795) Rock beauty angelfish tropical western Atlantic Ocean to the northern Gulf of Mexico

References