Cortez Angelfish: The Fish That Transforms as It Grows

The Cortez angelfish is really two fish in one lifetime: young ones are jet-black with electric yellow-and-blue stripes, while adults mellow into a soft gray-gold with sweeping bands. Spotting a juvenile is a real treat. Here's how to find one near Jacó, plus five fun facts.

Cortez Angelfish · Pomacanthus zonipectus

How to spot the cortez angelfish near Jacó

Scan the rocky reef for a tall, disk-shaped angelfish. If it's boldly striped in blue and yellow, you've found a youngster; if it's larger and gray-gold with graceful bands, that's an adult. Both are confident fish that often give snorkelers a good, long look.

5 fun facts about the cortez angelfish

• Juveniles look like a different fish. Young Cortez angelfish are black with brilliant yellow and electric-blue stripes; adults fade to gray-gold with sweeping bands — a dramatic change.
• Young ones are cleaners. Juveniles often set up cleaning stations, picking parasites off larger fish that stop by for the service.
• Named for the Sea of Cortez. Its home range centers on the Gulf of California — the Sea of Cortez — and runs south along the Pacific coast.
• Bold and curious. Cortez angelfish are often confident around snorkelers, which makes them easy and rewarding to watch.
• A sponge specialist. Adults eat a lot of sponges, rounded out with algae and small invertebrates from the reef.

The cortez angelfish is just one of many characters down there. See the whole cast in our Snorkel Jaco fish directory, or read real guest photos and reviews on the Snorkel Jaco reviews.