Description:

Dorsal spines: 14; Dorsal rays: 16-18; Anal spines: 3; Anal rays: 17-19.

Small (pygmy) angelfish with oval body. Terminal, moderately protrusible mouth. Caudal fin rounded.

Colour.  A dark purplish-blue pygmy angelfish. The centre and ventral portion of the body is orange or yellow, with vertical blue lines or spots. Pectoral 
fin is yellow. Pelvic fin reddish prange. The dorsal, caudal and anal fins have a bright blue margin.
 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 10.0 cm TL 
 

Inhabits coral reefs of lagoons, rubble areas and most commonly on exposed outer slopes and drop-offs (depth 3-60 m). Juveniles are usually found in 
coastal, clear-water, rocky reefs. Secretive using crevices in reef for shelter. Feeds on algae and detritus. Solitary or in small groups, forms haremic 
groups of 3-7 individuals. Protogynous hermaphrodites, the most dominant female in a group changing sex to become male if the existing male dies or 
disappears.  
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to the artisanal fishery. 
 

Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.
 

ALA. Centropyge bispinosa (Günther, 1860), Coral Beauty. https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/abc56132-2f09-4811-be0d-13fc819383b1#overview (13/08/22).  
Bray, D.J. Centropyge bispinosa in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/639 (14/08/22). 
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5458 (13/08/22).
Mayhew, M. (2008). Centropyge bispinosa (coral beauty). https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=32123 (13/08/22). 
McGrouther, M. (2021). Coral Beauty, Centropyge bispinosa (Günther, 1860). https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/coral-beauty-centropyge-bispinosa-guumlnther-1860/ (13/08/22). 
Pyle, R. & Myers, R. (2010). Centropyge bispinosa. The IUCN Red List 2010: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T165871A6153518.en. (13/08/22).
Smith, M. & Heemstra, P. (Eds.) (1999). Smiths’ Sea Fishes Edition 6. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 10.1007/978-3-642-82858-4

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2019). Centropyge bispinosa, Twospined angelfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/centropyge-bispinosa-gunther-1860/