Semicircle angelfish
Pomacanthus semicirculatus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Semicircle angelfish
- Scientific
- Pomacanthus semicirculatus
- Dhivehi
- ބައިބުރު ކޮކާމަސްBaiburu kokaamas
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 40 cm (standard length) (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 38 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 1 to 40 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2009
Description
A large angelfish; adults are greenish to yellowish brown with dark flecks, blue edges to the fins and bright blue lines on the gill cover, while juveniles are dark blue with curved white and pale blue lines. It lives on coastal reefs with plenty of shelter and feeds on sponges, tunicates and algae.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name baiburu kokaamas (MRS 1997). MRS notes it is rare in the Maldives, though one pair lived on the Maldive Victory wreck near Hulhulé for several years.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Pomacanthus-semicirculatus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ބައިބުރު_ކޮކާމަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:X_Pomacanthus_semicirculatus_2prg.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Baiburu kokaamas' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ބައިބުރު ކޮކާމަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.