HomeMarine aquarium fishAngelfish & butterflyfishCortez angelfish Cortez angelfish (Pomacanthus zonipectus) Scientific name: Pomacanthus zonipectus Gill, 1862 The Cortez angelfish (Pomacanthus zonipectus) is a marine fish of the family Pomacanthidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, Gulf of California (Puerto Pe?asco) and north of Bah?a Magdalena (Bah?a San Juanico), Mexico to Peru. BiologyA diurnal feeder or substrate feeder. Primary food item are sponges supplemented by tunicates, algae, bryozoans, hydroids and eggs. Adults often range widely over the reef in pairs or loose aggregations while juveniles are territorial and solitary. Oviparous, monogamous. Breeding occurs from midsummer to early fall and juveniles are most abundant from August through November.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific namePomacanthus zonipectusFamilyPomacanthidae (Angelfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length46.0Common length26.0Depth range6–12 m (20–39 ft)EnvironmentMarine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 6 - 12 mClimateTropicalDistributionEastern Pacific: Gulf of California (Puerto Pe?asco) and north of Bah?a Magdalena (Bah?a San Juanico), Mexico to Peru.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercialResilienceMedium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.) More angelfish & butterflyfishPajama cardinalfishSphaeramia nematopteraKing angelfishHolacanthus passerThreebanded butterflyfishChaetodon humeralisSomali butterflyfishChaetodon leucopleuraBrownburnieChaetodon blackburniiBlackwedged butterflyfishChaetodon falculaSee all angelfish & butterflyfish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026