Deep blue Chromis (Chromis abyssus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Chromis abyssus is a species of damselfish first discovered in 1997 and described in 2008. The 8 cm long fish only lives more than 110 m below the surface of the Pacific Ocean around the coast of the Ngemelis Islands, Palau. Adults have been observed living singly or in pairs, whereas juveniles tend to live in groups.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderBlenniiformes
- FamilyPomacentridae
- GenusChromis
- SpeciesChromis abyssus
Named by Pyle, 2008
Close relatives
Other species of Chromis with a Codexery entry.
- Barrier reef chromis Chromis nitida
- Black-axil chromis Chromis atripectoralis
- Blacksmith Chromis punctipinnis
- Damselfish Chromis chromis
- Chromis hangganan
- Chromis limbaughi
- Chromis lubbocki
- Chromis dispila
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Chromis abyssus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · differs from this box at order: WoRMS AphiaID 345844 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.1 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: FishBase species summary
Where the deep blue chromis (chromis abyssus) has been recorded
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Ovalentaria incertae sedis · Family: Pomacentridae · Genus: Chromis.
Accepted name: Chromis abyssus · Authority: Pyle, Earle & Greene, 2008 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 345844.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=345844 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Chromis abyssus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 9.800000190734863 cm · Depth range: 107–150 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Adults appear to prefer depths more that 115 m, staying close to the substratum, sand and rubble slope with boulders and rock outcroppings. They take refuge in small caves and holes. Juveniles and some subadults were observed around limestone talus. Adults were usually solitary or in pairs, while subadults and juveniles were seen in small groups.
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). Other Chromis associated with this species include C. brevirostris , C. degruyi and C. earina (Ref. 59379).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 63552) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chromis-abyssus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Its specific name, abyssus, is a Latinised form of the Greek noun (meaning "abyss"), in honour of the documentary film Pacific Abyss, produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation, which funded the expedition on which the type specimens were collected. The vernacular name "deep blue Chromis", a reference to both the life colour of this species and the relatively (within the context of the genus) deep-dwelling habits, is suggested instead of the more literally translated "abyss Chromis", so as not to imply that the species inhabits depths commonly defined as abyssal.
C. abyssus was the first species entered into the ZooBank registry with a timestamp of 2008-01-01T00:00:02, and it was selected as one of "The Top 10 New Species" described in 2008 by The International Institute for Species Exploration at Arizona State University and an international committee of taxonomists.
Source: Wikipedia: Chromis abyssus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromis_abyssus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Chromis abyssus (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; compare WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: FishBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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