Keyhole angelfish (Centropyge tibicen)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Centropyge tibicen · Authority: (Cuvier, 1831) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278851.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Centriopyge tibicen (Cuvier, 1831); Centropyge tibicens (Cuvier, 1831); Holacanthus tibicen Cuvier, 1831; Xiphipops tibicen (Cuvier, 1831).

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278851 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 19 cm · Depth range: 4–55 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: Relatively uncommon in mixed coral and rubble areas of lagoon and seaward reefs. The largest member of the genus (Ref. 1602). Feeds mainly on algae. Forms harems of 3-7 individuals. Frequently exported through the aquarium trade (Ref. 48391).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 6548) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Centropyge-tibicen.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

1,878 georeferenced occurrence records for Centropyge tibicen are published through GBIF from 14 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 180 distinct locations from a sample of 1,878 records, omitting 29 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 (1,175); Indonesia (227); New Caledonia (183); Philippines (133); Palau (54).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396505) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396505&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278851 (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 tibicen (Cuvier, 1831) 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 165901) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165901/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396505) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396505/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Centropyge tibicen is mainly black in colour, the adults have an elongated vertical black blotch in the centre of the upper flanks. Smaller fish are mainly black with a white vertical bar which changes to a central blotch and becomes highly variable in form and extent. The dorsal and anal fins have a blue line just below their margin. Much of the pelvic and the front part of the anal fin are yellow.

The caudal fin has a blue line which is positioned submarginally. The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 15-16 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 16-17 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 19 cm.

Distribution

Centropyge tibicen is found in the Indo-Pacific region. It occurs from the northwestern coast of Australia and Christmas Island through the Indo-Australian Archipelago to Vanuatu and Tonga in the east. Its range extends as far north as southern Japan and Taiwan and to Lord Howe Island.

Habitat and biology

Centropyge tibicen is found at depths between 4 and 35 m. It is an uncommon species of areas where there is a mixture of coral and rubble on both lagoon and seaward reefs.

It is herbivorous and algae dominates its diet. It lives in harems of 3-7 fishes. This species is able to change sex from female to male, when there is no male in a harem, one of the females changes sex.

Systematics

Centropyge tibicen was first formally described as Holocanthus tibicen in 1831 by the French anatomist Georges Cuvier (1769-1832). The specific name tibicen means "trumpeter", this is thought to be alluding to the name given to this species by the Dutch naturalist François Valentijn (1666-1727) in 1726, Japonfche Trompetter. When Johann Jakob Kaup described the genus Centropyge in 1860 he named Cuvier's H. tibicen as the type species. As the type species it is placed in the subgenus Centropyge.

Utilisation

Centropyge tibicen is frequently found in the aquarium trade, but does not tolerate Ionic copper medications very well. It is recommended to use Ionic copper treatments only, or rather, a less harsh procedure such as the Hybrid Tank Transfer method.

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