When human parents bring a child into the world, they watch their offspring eagerly for facial features and other physical characteristics that are similar to their own. Moms and dads experience a certain pride whenever someone acknowledges that, “She has her mother’s eyes” or “He has his father’s smile.” But in the world of reef fishes, it’s not always helpful for youngsters to be a “chip off the old block” appearance-wise. In fact, it can sometimes be extremely beneficial for juveniles to look nothing like their parents. Such is the case with many of the marine angelfishes. For instance, juveniles of the Pomacanthus and Holacanthus genera often sport coloration and patterning so different from that of adult conspecifics that they can easily be mistaken for different species altogether. How different? Take the iconic emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) for example. While the adults exhibit alternating yellow and blue horizontal stripes on their sides; white, black, and yellow coloration around the head (including a “raccoon mask” across the eyes); and a bright-yellow tail fin, the juveniles have a dark blue to black base color with light-blue to white lines forming vertical stripes and concentric circles on their flanks. Emperor Angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator) – juvenile (top), adult (bottom) Another example (for “Caribbean Chris’s” edification) is the French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) More: Why Are Juvenile Marine Angelfish So Different From Adults?… More:
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