Common name: Angelfish
Scientific name: Pterophyllum scalare
Size: 5 inches [length] , 8 inches[height]
Angelfish are distributed throughout Amazonia. The streams in which they live are often
covered with reed-like plants and large growth of algae.Other habitats they inhabit are
flooded areas with tangles of bogwood and others in bodies of water heavily populated
with plant life. Angelfish are laterally compressed and have 3 main body stripes. They have
a majestic appearance and are very graceful swimmers making them very popular in the
aquarium trade. Their shape allows them to easily move in their enviroment and their color-
ation offers camouflage from predators in the Amazon River. In nature they are known to
lay their eggs on leaves and at the appearance of a predator, they move off with the leaf
to protect their brood. This species also lives in small shoals in the wild.