Blacktail angelfish (Centropyge eibli)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Centropyge eibli · Authority: Klausewitz, 1963 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278833.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278833 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 15 cm · Depth range: 3–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Inhabits rocky areas of seaward reefs as well as rich coral areas (Ref. 9710). Feeds on algae; forms harems of 3-7 individuals.

Frequently exported through the aquarium trade. Forms hybrids with Centropyge vrolikii in areas where these 2 species are sympatric, and hybrids with the C. flavissima have been recorded in the Christmas I. and Cocos-Keeling islands in the eastern Indian Ocean. Mimicked by the juveniles of the acanthurid Acanthurus tristis (Ref. 48391).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10870) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Centropyge-eibli.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

236 georeferenced occurrence records for Centropyge eibli are published through GBIF from 11 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 40 distinct locations from a sample of 236 records, omitting 6 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (102); Indonesia (65); Thailand (25); Christmas Island (24); India (8); Viet Nam (4); Malaysia (3); Cocos (Keeling) Islands (2); Hong Kong (1); Sri Lanka (1); French Polynesia (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396518) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396518&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278833 (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 eibli Klausewitz, 1963 as Least Concern (code LC). 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 165855) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165855/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396518) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396518/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Centropyge eibli is primarily greyish in colour and has thin, vertical wavy bars in rust along its flanks. Its eye is surrounded by an orange ring. The caudal peduncle and the caudal fin are black, with the rear margin of the caudal fin being bright blue. This pattern is similar to that of the juveniles of the Indian Ocean Mimic Surgeonfish Acanthurus tristis.

These surgeonfish mimic the small, agile angelfish to deter predators. The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 15-17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17-18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 15 cm.

Distribution

Centropyge eibli is found in the eastern Indian Ocean from the Maldives and Sri Lanka to north-western Australia, and in Indonesia east as far as Flores. In Australian waters it has been recorded from Christmas Island, Ningaloo Reef, Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef in Western Australia and Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea.

Habitat and biology

Centropyge eibli is found at depths between 3 and 25 m. It occurs in shallow areas which have dense growth of coral in lagoons, the Seward reefs and sometimes in channels with tidal currents.

It is typically encountered in a small harems of a male and several females. It feeds mainly on algae. This species is a protogynous hermaphrodite and the dominant female in a harem will change sex to male if the male disappears.

Systematics

Centropyge eibli Was first formally described in 1963 by the German ichthyologist Wolfgang Klausewitz (1922-2018) with the type locality given as Castle Bay, Tillanchong, Nicobar Islands. The specific name honours the ethologist and ichthyologist Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt (1928-2018) who collected some of the type series. Within the genus Centropyge this species is considered, by some authorities, to be in the subgenus Centropyge. It has been recorded hybridisation with Centropyge vrolikii where they are sympatric, and with the C. flavissima at Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.

Utilisation

Centropyge eibli is sometimes found in the aquarium trade. The specimens which are exported to Europe and North America are mostly exported through Sri Lanka.

Source: Wikipedia: Centropyge eibli — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centropyge_eibli (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.