Black-velvet angelfish (Chaetodontoplus melanosoma)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Chaetodontoplus melanosoma · Authority: (Bleeker, 1853) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 280119.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Holacanthus melanosoma Bleeker, 1853.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=280119 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 20 cm · Depth range: 5–30 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: An uncommon species that inhabits coastal reefs and drop-offs (Ref. 9710) that are exposed to strong tidal currents (Ref. 48636). Juveniles on deep rubble slopes with rich invertebrate growth. Feeds on sponges and tunicates. Solitary or in pairs. Frequently exported through the aquarium trade (Ref. 48391).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10472) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chaetodontoplus-melanosoma.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

57 georeferenced occurrence records for Chaetodontoplus melanosoma are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 16 distinct locations from a sample of 57 records, omitting 4 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: Philippines (24); Indonesia (18); Chinese Taipei (10); Timor-Leste (2); Australia (1); Korea, Republic of (1); Solomon Islands (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396588) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396588&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=280119 (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 Chaetodontoplus melanosoma (Bleeker, 1853) 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 165850) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165850/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396588) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396588/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Chaetodontoplus melanosoma has a body which has an overall black or brown colouration with an ochre face and yellowish-orange spots across the forehead. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins have yellow margins. The dorsal fin contains 13 spines and 17-19 soft rays while the anal fin contains 3 spines and 17-18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 20 cm.

Chaetodontoplus melanosoma is found in the western Pacific Ocean. It lives in central Indonesia around western Java, Bali, Komodo, Flores, Sulawesi, and northeastern Kalimantan. It is also found in Sabah in Malaysia and in the Sulu Archipelago, Cebu, and southern Luzon in the Philippines.

Chaetodontoplus melanosoma occurs at depths of approximately 5 to 30 metres in outer rocky or coastal reefs, and is often found in areas with strong currents or upwellings of cooler water. Its eats tunicates and sponges, and may be observed in pairs or alone. C. melanosoma is hermaphroditic.

Chaetodontoplus melanosoma was first formally described in 1855 as Holocanthus melanosoma by the Dutch ichthyologist, herpetologist and physician Pieter Bleeker (1819-1878) with the type locality given as Lawajong on Solor in Indonesia. The specific name is a compound of the Greek melanos meaning "black" and soma meaning "body" a reference to the plain black body in adults.

Chaetodontoplus melanosoma is commonly exported for the aquarium trade. It is best kept at a temperature of 72 to 78 F, a pH of 8.1-8.4, a hardness of 8-12 dKH and a salinity of 1.020-1.025 sg.

These fishes grow to 8 in inches. They are omnivorous, and will consume aquarium invertebrates such as coral. These fish rarely breed in aquaria.

Source: Wikipedia: Chaetodontoplus melanosoma — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaetodontoplus_melanosoma (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.