Blue-ringed Angelfish - Pomacanthus annularis - Electric Blue Lines

A Blue-ringed Angelfish photographed outside Pattaya, Thailand, displaying its striking electric-blue curved lines across a golden-olive body.

The Blue-ringed Angelfish (Pomacanthus annularis) has a deep, strongly compressed body with extended dorsal and anal fins and a distinctive spine on the gill cover typical of marine angelfishes. Adults are golden-brown to olive in colour and crossed by a series of curved electric-blue lines that sweep backwards across the body, while additional blue markings cross the face and a characteristic blue ring lies behind the upper edge of the gill cover. The tail is pale to whitish, often edged with yellow. This Indo-West Pacific species inhabits tropical coastal reefs and associated rocky or coral habitats from shallow water to about 60 metres depth. Adults may occur alone or in pairs and feed mainly on sponges and tunicates. Blue-ringed Angelfish can reach approximately 45 centimetres in total length. This photograph was taken in coastal waters outside Pattaya, Thailand, where the vivid blue markings contrast strongly with the fish’s golden-olive body.