This month’s article series will be about..
Andros Island, Bahamas! Andros Island is one of the islands that is the country of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Andros Island is best known for its extremely high density of tourism. Snorkelling & scuba divers flock to this island every summer. Its currency is the Bahamian Dollar which is one US Dollar. It is surrounded by coral reefs, tropical waters, & exotic marine life. The Bahamas sit in the Atlantic Ocean just 72 kilometers (44.7387 miles) southeast of Florida. However it is not the island itself that will be discussed in this article, it is the creatures in the waters around it. In this article we will discuss the Gray Angelfish which is an exotic ray-finned marine fish.
The Lives Of The Gray Angelfish
The Gray Angelfish was first put on record in 1758 & was labelled as Pomacanthus Arcuatus. It was described & discovered by Carolus Linnaeus. Carolus Linnaeus was a Swedish zoologist, botanist, physicist, & marine biologist. The first known documentation of the Pomacanthus Arcuatus was in the book Systema Naturæ written by Carolus Linnaeus. Systema Naturæ is about the Linnaean Taxonomy System. It was not noted where they were originally found, however as of 2022 they are found from New York to the Gulf Of Mexico & Rio De Janeiro. Most shockingly they along with 2 other species of angelfish from our knowledge live up to 20 years. Gray Angelfish can grow up to 60 centimeters (24 inches) in length. They can also weigh upwards of 1.6 kilograms (3 1/2 pounds). The Gray Angelfish is flat, light gray in colour, & oval shaped. From its feeding behaviours in captivity we can tell that its diet consists mainly of sponges but it also is known to enjoy tunicates, algae, gorgonians, hydroids, bryozoans, & a variety of seagrasses. Pomacanthus Arcuatus have a small comb like row of teeth to help them chew & consume their food properly. Unfortunately, there are no photographs that are public domain of the Gray Angelfish’s teeth. Gray Angelfish are not endangered in any capacity. These are also not to be confused with Pterophyllum, another species called Angelfish that live in the fresh waters marshes of South America. The Gray Angelfish phylum is Chordata meaning that they have 5 synapomorphies, these 5 synapomorphies include a Notochord, Dorsal Hollow Nerve Cord, Endostyle Or Thyriod Pharyngeal Slits, & A Post Anal Tail. The name “Chordate” comes from the first of these synapomorphies, The Notochord, which plays a significant role in Chordate structure and movement.
Mating Behaviours Of The Gray Angelfish
The Gray Angelfish have a very strange way of mating. The male angelfish flaps its pectoral fins to attract a group of females who are usually called a harem. The male angelfish then mates with each of them. There are usually 4-6 female Pomacanthus Arcuatus in a harem however there can be up to 10 female angelfish in a harem. Also one female angelfish can have babies with one male then go onto be in another harem. There is no evidence that points to the angelfish taking care of their young after they hatch. Their mating season is from April to September however this does not mean they do not mate in the colder months. The female Pomacanthus Arcuatus can lay anywhere from 100 to 1,000 eggs in one breeding cycle. It is unfortunately not on record how many breeding cycles they have in one year. They lay them in rows on ocean leaflets & then swim away never to be seen again by their young. However some of them choose to lay everywhere, they have been recorded laying eggs on bare ocean floor. We did the math using information about these creatures & it is estimated that approximately 90,000,000 eggs are laid in the breeding months of the year. However most likely only 25% of these fish ever survive past the egg stage. That is not counting in the ones that die at a juvenile stage.
Distribution Of The Gray Angelfish
The Gray Angelfish live from New York to Rio De Janeiro. However they can be found in northern coastal waters of Florida. They are largely found off the coast of Mexico & in the Gulf Of Mexico in all seasons. From our knowledge they have been found in the Veracruz coral reef. They enjoy tropical waters & are found on average from 3 to 30 meters (9.84252 feet to 98.4252 feet) below the surface of the ocean. However there is evidence that they live even deeper than that in underwater canyons & ravines. These marine finned fish are in abundance around Jamaica where they are widely known as “pot cover”. In Jamaica they are an absolute delicacy. They is a wide market in the Caribbean for their flesh because of how protein packed they are.
The Habitats Of The Gray Angelfish
The Gray Angelfish enjoy tropical areas of the ocean. However, it is not uncommon to see them around the waters of New York & all up the East Coast. They are mostly found in coral reefed areas & lagoons. It is extremely rare to find them in deeper areas of the ocean. They are notably common around Jamaica & The Bahamas. They are incredibly important to the predator fish of this area as they are quite the target as prey.
How To Cook The Gray Angelfish Properly
The Gray Angelfish (In Jamaica known as pot cover) are an absolute delicacy if prepared properly. They are packed with protein & a plethora of vitamins & are highly recommended by various culinary associations. They can be served fresh or salted however if not prepared properly there is evidence that they can cause ciguatera disease which comes primarily from fish poisoning. Symptoms of this usually appear 25-70 minutes after consuming the contaminated fish. Severe cases may result in death. Their flavour profile is most similar to the Florida pompano in taste. Reportedly they taste best when salted & served in a stew or with rice. It is important that one cooks the fish thoroughly so that one does not consume any bacteria. From numerous amounts of taste testing statistics, they are best cooked when pan fried instead of by boiling, broiling, or baking. It is also recommended that you cook them for 14-18 minutes for taste & flavour as well as safety in mind. They are mostly found as dishes in Jamaica & all throughout the rest of the Caribbean, however on rare occasion you may find them in Florida as a dish during the winter.
Our Conclusion
The Gray Angel Fish is an incredibly interesting species with some utterly odd mating behaviours. They have a complex & savoury flavour profile that is a delicacy in Jamaica as well as looking incredibly majestic & art like. Seeing a group of them swim by in a coral reef is a surreal experience sought after by select groups of divers. These fish deserve more research to be done about them in the future by marine bioscientists.
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