Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
🌍 Overview
The freshwater angelfish is a cichlid native to the slow-moving tributaries and flooded forest of the Amazon Basin. Its tall, laterally compressed body is a natural adaptation for slipping between submerged roots and plant stems, effectively disguising it as a drifting leaf. Angelfish often form long-term monogamous breeding pairs and display cooperative biparental care of their eggs and fry, an unusually elaborate parenting behavior for a fish.
📋 Quick Facts
Native Range
Amazon Basin (Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Guyana)
Natural Habitat
Slow-moving tributaries, flooded forest, and blackwater streams
Adult Size
6 inches (15 cm) body; 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) including fins
Wild Diet
Small insects, crustaceans, zooplankton, and occasionally small fish
Wild Lifespan
10-12 years
Conservation Status
Not evaluated (widespread and common)
⚖️ Compare
Angelfish
Human
Adult Size
6 inches (15 cm) body; 8-10 inches (20-25 cm) including fins
5-6 feet (150-185 cm); ~135-200 lbs
Wild Lifespan
10-12 years
~73 years (global average)
Wild Diet
Small insects, crustaceans, zooplankton, and occasionally small fish
Omnivorous - eats just about anything
Native Range
Amazon Basin (Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Guyana)
Global - originated in Africa roughly 300,000 years ago
Natural Habitat
Slow-moving tributaries, flooded forest, and blackwater streams
Everywhere from arctic tundra to tropical megacities
Conservation Status
Not evaluated (widespread and common)
Least Concern (8+ billion and counting)
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🤓 Did You Know?
Angelfish are cichlids that often form long-term monogamous breeding pairs, and unlike most fish, both parents cooperatively guard their eggs and fry - fanning them with fresh water and defending the territory together. Their tall, laterally flattened body shape is a natural adaptation for slipping between roots and plant stems in flooded Amazon forest, effectively letting them disguise themselves as a drifting leaf.
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