Blue velvet angelfish (Centropyge deborae)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Acanthuriformes · Family: Pomacanthidae · Genus: Centropyge.

Accepted name: Centropyge deborae · Authority: Shen, Ho & Chang, 2012 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 712744.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=712744 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Centropyge deborae. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 6.949999809265137 cm · Depth range: 5–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 66462) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Centropyge-deborae.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

47 georeferenced occurrence records for Centropyge deborae are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 5 distinct locations from a sample of 47 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Fiji (47).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 7193245) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=7193245&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=712744 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Centropyge deborae Shen, Ho & Chang, 2012 as Data Deficient (code DD). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.

Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 241132797) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/241132797/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 7193245) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/7193245/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The blue velvet angelfish has an overall bluish-black colour, although in poor light it appears black. The caudal fin has a white rear margin and the rays of the pectoral fin are black separated by a transparent membrane. The dorsal fin has 13–14 spines and 16–17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17–18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 7 cm.

The blue velvet angelfish is only known from Fiji.

The blue velvet angelfish is an extremely shy fish which often hides among rubble and rocks, particularly when alarmed, on seamounts.

The blue velvet angelfish was first formally described in 2012 by Kang-Ning Shen, Hsuan-Ching Ho, and Chih-Wei Chang with the type locality given as Bligh Water, east of Yasawa Island in Fiji. The specific name honours Deborah Smith, wife of Walt Smith, a collector and trader in the aquarium trade who collected the type series. Within the genus Centropyge this species is considered to be incertae sedis. It was initially identified as C. nox but the blue tint and subsequent genetic analysis at the National Taiwan University confirmed it was a new species.

The blue velvet angelfish makes an occasional appearance in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Blue velvet angelfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_velvet_angelfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.