Dark-margin Chromis (Chromis hangganan)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Chromis hangganan, the dark margin chromis, is a species of marine fish of the damselfishes in the family Pomacentridae belonging to the genus Chromis. This species was first described in 2019, along with Chromis bowesi and Chromis gunting, discovered and known only from Lubang Island, in the Philippines. It is characterized by 10–12 dorsal fin rays, 11–12 anal fin rays, 18 pectoral fin rays, 3 caudal fin rays that are procurrent, 16 lateral line scales that are tubed, 23–26 gill rakers, and a body depth of 1.9–2.0 in standard length(5.78 cm in length) as differed from other congeners. The adult fish's color when fresh is yellowish having dark black margins on the dorsal and anal fins.
- Scientific name
- Chromis hangganan
- Authority
- Arango, Pinheiro, Rocha, Greene, Pyle, Copus, Shepherd & Rocha, 2019
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Order
- Ovalentaria incertae sedis
- Maximum length
- 5.78000020980835 cm
- Depth range
- 90–130 m
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
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 hangganan · Authority: Arango, Pinheiro, Rocha, Greene, Pyle, Copus, Shepherd & Rocha, 2019 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 1340192.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1340192 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Chromis hangganan. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 5.78000020980835 cm · Depth range: 90–130 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 69006) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Chromis-hangganan.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Chromis hangganan Arango, Pinheiro, Rocha, Greene, Pyle, Copus, Shepherd & Rocha, 2019 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 241132747) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/241132747/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 10311245) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/10311245/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Chromis hangganan was particularly only found at Lubang Island, Oriental Mindoro. All three species, C. bowesi, C. gunting and C. hangganan comes from Philippines, and collected at a depth of about 75–150 m, with C. hangganan at 90–130 m.
The largest specimen used to describe C. hangganan has a size of about 5.7 cm. Images of fresh specimens are not captured. According to the authors, C. hangganan has a brown body; the upper body is darker brown than the lower body; its tail and caudal fins are pale yellow in particular. There are also black edges along the dorsal and anal fin spines. Soft dorsal fin and anal fin have yellow rays. The mouth, snout and nape, and the area around the eyes are dark brown. The lower part of the head is light brown. There are also dark spots on the pectoral fin base.
The scientific nomenclature uses the word hangganan which means border in Tagalog, the specific epithet was in reference to the black margins along the dorsal and anal fins or referring to the appearance of the fish's fin margins or borders.
Source: Wikipedia: Chromis hangganan — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromis_hangganan (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dark-margin Chromis (Chromis hangganan)?
It is a small damselfish in the genus Chromis, family Pomacentridae, that was formally described as a new species in 2019. The species is known exclusively from the waters surrounding Lubang Island in the Philippines.
Where does the Dark-margin Chromis live and at what depth?
All confirmed records place this fish in deep water off Lubang Island, Philippines, between roughly 90 and 130 meters below the surface. It was identified alongside Chromis bowesi and Chromis gunting during that 2019 taxonomic work.
How large does a Dark-margin Chromis grow?
Adults top out at about 5.78 centimeters in total length, making it a very small reef-associated fish. Its body depth measures roughly 1.9 to 2.0 times its standard length, giving it a noticeably deep-bodied silhouette.
What features distinguish Chromis hangganan from other Chromis species?
It carries 10–12 dorsal-fin rays, 11–12 anal-fin rays, 18 pectoral-fin rays, and exactly 16 tubed lateral-line scales. It also has 23–26 gill rakers and three procurrent caudal-fin rays, a fin-ray and scale combination that separates it from its congeners.
Why is the Dark-margin Chromis of particular interest to fish biologists?
It went unrecognized in the scientific record until 2019, when Arango and colleagues formally described it from a single Philippine island. Its extremely restricted known range and deep-water habitat make it a focal point for ongoing biogeographic and conservation study.
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