Yellowfin angelfish (Centropyge flavipectoralis)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Centropyge flavipectoralis · Authority: Randall & Klausewitz, 1977 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278835.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278835 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 10 cm · Depth range: 3–20 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Found in area of rubble with little coral growth. Occurs in small groups on semi-open substrate, Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 48636.

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10974) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Centropyge-flavipectoralis.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Conservation status (IUCN Red List)

The IUCN Red List assesses Centropyge flavipectoralis Randall & Klausewitz, 1977 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 165895) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165895/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396504) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396504/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Centropyge flavipectoralis is largely brown in colour marked on the flanks with metallic blue stripes. The pectoral fin is yellow. The dorsal fin contains 14–15 spines and 14–15 soft rays while the anal fin has three spines and 16–18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 10 cm.

Centropyge flavipectoralis is found in the Indian Ocean in the Maldives, Sri Lanka and the Andaman Sea from Thailand south to northern Sumatra.

Centropyge flavipectoralis is found at depths between 3 and 20 m. This species occurs in areas of rubble with limited growth of coral. It is usually encountered in small groups on seabeds with some cover. Its diet is mainly algae, worms and crustaceans.

Centropyge flavipectoralis was first formally described in 1977 by the American ichthyologist John Ernest Randall (1924-2020) and his German colleague Wolfgang Klausewitz (1922-2018) with the type locality given as Lively Rock at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. The specific name flavipectoralis means "yellow pectoral" referring to the colour of the pectoral fins. Within the genus Centropyge this species is considered, by some authorities, to be in the subgenus Centropyge.

Centropyge flavipectoralis is infrequent in the aquarium trade. It is reputed to be a hardy species in captivity but its relative drabness reduces demand.

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