Biology:Blue velvet angelfish

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Short description: Species of fish

Blue velvet angelfish
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacanthidae
Genus: Centropyge
Species:
C. deborae
Binomial name
Centropyge deborae
Shen, Ho & Chang, 2012

The blue velvet angelfish (Centropyge deborae), also known as the Fiji blue midnight angelfish, is a small species of marine ray finned fish, a marine angelfish belonging to the family Pomacanthidae. It is only known from Fiji where it was initially considered to be a variety or subspecies of the midnight pygmy angelfish.

Description

The blue velvet angelfish has an overall bluish-black colour,[1] although in poor light it appears black.[2] The caudal fin has a white rear margin and the rays of the pectoral fin are black separated by a transparent membrane. The dorsal fin contains 13-14 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 7 centimetres (2.8 in).[1] [3]

Distribution

The blue velvet angelfish is only known from Fiji.[1]

Habitat and biology

The blue velvet angelfish is an extremely shy fish which often hides among rubble and rocks, particularly when alarmed, on seamounts.[4]

Systematics

The blue velvet angelfish was first formally described in 2012 by Kang-Ning Shen, Hsuan-Ching Ho, and Chih-Wei Chang with the type locality given as Bligh Water, east of Yasawa Island in Fiji.[5] The specific name honours Deborah Smith, wife of Walt Smith, a collector and trader in the aquarium trade who collected the type series. Within the genus Centropyge this species is considered to be incertae sedis.[6] It was initially identified as C. nox but the blue tint and subsequent genetic analysis at the National Taiwan University confirmed it was a new species.[2]

Utlisation

The blue velvet angelfish makes an occasional appearance in the aquarium trade.[2]

References

External links

Wikidata ☰ Q5653773 entry