Cirrhilabrus shutmani, also known as the magma fairy wrasse, was discovered by RVS Fishworld in 2016 living around the Didicas Volcano in the Babuyan Islands of the Philippines.

Named in honor of Barnett Paul Shutman, RVS Fishworld, a tropical-fish exporter in the Philippines, who provided holotype, paratypes and photos of the species.

Comparatively, Cirrhilabrus shutmani appeared to be closely related to C. blatteus, C. claire, C. earlei, C. jordani, C. lanceolatus, C. roseafascia, C. rubrisquamis and C. sanguineus upon discovery.

[6] Eating a carnivorous diet consumed mostly of gastropods and bivalves, the magma wrasse utilises its pharyngeal jaws formed by ceratobranchial and pharyngobranchial bones, to crush the shells of its prey.

Philippine's ecosystems have been distinctly affected by the volcanic activity and friction of the Australian and Asian plates at least 15 million years ago manifesting a continuum of biodiverse features.

[9] The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 2 reported that the based on their initial assessment, the coral reefs and the sea grasses in the province's protected marine biodiversity areas are in good condition.