| Pomacentridae (Damselfishes), subfamily: Microspathodontinae |
| 13 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 4 m, non-migratory |
| Indo-Pacific: Seychelles and Reunion to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New Caledonia. |
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Dorsal spines (total): 12-12; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 12-14. Diagnosis: Body dark brown to blackish; suborbital mostly blue with blue spots on side of head; most scales on side of body with blue transverse streak. Fins dark brown to blackish except pectorals which are translucent with dusky rays. Pectorals with scaly inner base and has pupil-sized black spot at the base of uppermost rays; a black spot (maybe bordered anteriorly with white) at base of posterior dorsal rays, slightly extending onto dorsal edge of caudal peduncle; with or without white bar across posterior half of body (Ref. 510). Body depth 1.8-2.1 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| A territorial herbivore. Adults inhabit reef flats, shallow lagoons, and semi-sheltered reef margins; common among patches of rubble or porous reef rock, surrounded by live coral, particularly in areas of mild surge (Ref. 1602). Also in high energy zones with mixed corals and short algae. They occur in small loose aggregations (Ref. 48636). Feeds on filamentous algae (Ref. 89972). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). |
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Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 04 October 2021 Ref. (130435)
|
| harmless |
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