Juveniles are colored with a large dark spot on basal portion of the soft dorsal fin.

[2] Recent research indicates that the Pygoplites comprises two morphs, with the variants potentially hybridizing at Christmas Island.

[4] The species can be found in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean around East Africa and the Maldives, stretching to the Tuamoto Islands, New Caledonia, and Great Barrier Reef.

[2] The royal angelfish occurs at depths ranging from 0 to 80 m (0 to 262 ft), in coral rich areas of lagoons, reefs, and are also often found in the vicinity of caves.

[4] The royal angelfish was first formally described in 1772 by the Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert, it has been the subject of 18th and 19th century zoological art.

[4] It is valued by aquarium hobbyists for being one of the few "reef safe" angelfish as its diet is composed primarily of sponges, and does not include corals.

[4] The royal angelfish can be challenging to keep in captivity, a healthy specimen that is given the right environment will likely start feeding within days when fed a variety of live, frozen, and flake or freeze-dried foods to entice satiety.