
An aquarium angelfish (Pterophyllum)
Any of various fishes of the order Perciformes. The best-known angelfishes are freshwater
cichlids (genus
Pterophyllum) popular in home aquariums. These are thin and deep-bodied fishes that usually are silver with vertical dark markings but may be solid or partially black; they may grow to 6 in. (15 cm) in length. Brightly coloured marine angelfishes are in the family Pomacanthidae. They are found among tropical reefs in the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific, where they eat algae and marine invertebrates and reach a maximum length of 18 in. (46 cm).
Learn more about angelfish with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.