Indigo hamlet (Hypoplectrus indigo)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Perciformes · Family: Serranidae · Genus: Hypoplectrus.

Accepted name: Hypoplectrus indigo · Authority: (Poey, 1851) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 281117.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Hypoplectrus bovinus (Poey, 1852); Plectropoma bovinum Poey, 1852; Plectropoma indigo Poey, 1851.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=281117 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 14.25 cm · Depth range: 3–45 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial · Aquarium trade: commercial.

FishBase notes: A solitary species (Ref. 26340) inhabiting coral reefs (Ref. 9710).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 12766) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Hypoplectrus-indigo.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

20,086 georeferenced occurrence records for Hypoplectrus indigo are published through GBIF from 21 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 50 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 13 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: United States of America (17,222); Puerto Rico (2,350); Honduras (150); Virgin Islands (U.S.) (114); Jamaica (74).

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

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2388767) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2388767&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=281117 (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 Hypoplectrus indigo (Poey, 1851) 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 16759066) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/16759066/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2388767) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2388767/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Hypoplectrus indigo has a deep body and head which is highly laterally compressed with a straight forehead and a rather short snout and a protrusible upper jaw. It has an angular preoperculum which has serrations on its edge and a number of small forward pointing spines on its lower margin close to the angle. The continuous dorsal fin has ten spines and 14-17 soft rays. It has long pelvic fins which extend as far as or beyond the anus.

The caudal fin is slightly forked. The body and fins are dark blue and there is a pattern of seven dark blue-black vertical bars on the head and body. The details of the patterning and intensity of the blue background colour on the body and fins shows individual variation with some fish having barrow black stripes running along the upper and lower margins of the caudal fin. This species attains a maximum recorded total length of 14.3 cm.

Distribution

Hypoplectrus indigo is found in the western Atlantic. Its ranges extends from the Bahamas in the north through the Gulf of Mexico along the Florida Keys and from Tuxpan in Mexico and the northern Yucatan Peninsula to northwestern Cuba. In the Caribbean Sea it has been recorded throughout the Antilles as far south as Tobago. It also occurs along the mainland coasts of Central and South America from Mexico to Mamitupo in Panama and among the offshore islands of Venezuela.

Habitat and biology

Hypoplectrus indigo is a solitary species of coral reefs at depths of 3 to 45 m. The species in the genus Hypoplectrus are synchronous hermaphrodites and they have the ability to move between "male" and "female" roles when spawning. The colour pattern of this species bears a slight resemblance to that of the blue species in the genus Chromis and it has been suggested that the indigo hamlet is an aggressive mimic of either the blue chromis (C. cyaneus) or C. insolata.

However, neither of the Chromis species really resembles H. indigo with its darker blue-black bars and other workers are not convinced by this hypothesis. These fish remain close to bottom and defend small territories on or near reefs. They are wary fish but can be curious, when approach they often retreat a short distance but then often return and approach stationary divers. This is a carnivorous species which feeds on other fishes and non-sessile benthic crustaceans.

Taxonomy

Hypoplectrus indigo was first formally described as Plectropoma indigo in 1851 by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey (1799-1891) with Havana, Cuba given as the type locality.

Utilisation

Hypoplectrus indigo is infrequently found in the aquarium trade. It is said to thrive when house appropriately.

Source: Wikipedia: Hypoplectrus indigo — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoplectrus_indigo (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.