Golden angelfish (Centropyge aurantia)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Centropyge aurantia · Authority: Randall & Wass, 1974 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278828.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Centropyge aurantius Randall & Wass, 1974.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278828 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 10 cm · Depth range: 3–60 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 among coral and sponge of seaward reef slopes (Ref. 37816). Cryptic, seldom seen by divers. Feeds on flake food and brine shrimp (Ref. 37816). Rarely exported through the aquarium trade (Ref. 48391).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10786) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Centropyge-aurantia.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

27 georeferenced occurrence records for Centropyge aurantia are published through GBIF from 7 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 12 distinct locations from a sample of 27 records, omitting 2 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 (12); Papua New Guinea (7); Fiji (3); Vanuatu (2); American Samoa (1); Palau (1); Solomon Islands (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2396524) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2396524&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278828 (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 aurantia Randall & Wass, 1974 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 165893) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/165893/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2396524) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2396524/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The Golden angelfish is an overall reddish orange in colour marked with numerous vertical thin sinuous golden bars on its flanks. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins have a few dark submarginal bands.

The eye is encircled by a dark bluish ring. The dorsal fin contains 14 spines and 16–17 soft rays while the anal fin has 3 spines and 17–18 soft rays. This species attains a maximum total length of 10 cm.

The Golden angelfish is found in the Western Pacific Ocean. Its range extends from eastern Indonesia through Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands east to Fiji and Samoa. It occurs as far south as Australia where it has been recorded at Carter Reef off Queensland.

The golden angelfish inhabits areas with many coral reefs and rocky outcrops, often hiding in crevices surrounded by sponges. It is an omnivore, feeding on algae, detritus and invertebrates. This is a shy species which is only infrequently observed by divers. It is found at depths of 3 to 20 m.

The Golden angelfish was first formally described in 1974 by John E. Randall (1924–2020) and Richard C Wass with the type locality given as Pago Pago Harbor, Tutuila, Aua Reef in American Samoa. Some authorities place this species in the subgenus Centropyge. The specific name aurantia means "orange", referring to the overall colour of this fish.

The golden angelfish is rarely found in the aquarium trade.

Source: Wikipedia: Golden angelfish — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_angelfish (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.