Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes) > Pomacentrinae
Etymology: Dascyllus: Greek, daskillys, -on = a kind of fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 20 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical, preferred ?; 38°N - 35°S, 19°E - 124°W
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Line, Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Sydney, Australia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 5.0 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4391); common length : 6.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5450); max. reported age: 6 years (Ref. 72479)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 12;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 11-13;
Anal
spines: 2;
Anal
soft rays: 11 - 13. Color in life white with 3 black bars; a large brown spot on dorsal part of snout and interorbital; lips dusky or white; caudal fin pale; pelvic fins black; pectorals transparent. Margins of preorbital, suborbital, and preoperculum finely serrated (Ref. 2746). Body depth 1.5-1.7 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Territorial, inhabit shallow lagoon and subtidal reef flats. Form large aggregations above staghorn Acropora thickets or in smaller groups above isolated coral heads. Feed on zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and algae. Males invite females to spawn in their nests; protecting the eggs until they hatch and becoming very aggressive against other fish. Eggs hatch after 3-5 days; pelagic larvae feed on plankton (Ref. 5503). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Used in behavioral study. Have been reared in captivity (Ref. 35412).
Male selects and protects the nest; does the courtship `dance' about 1 m above the nest and escorts the attracted female to the nest site where spawning ensues (Ref. 33146). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Also Ref. 103751.
Randall, H.A. and G.R. Allen, 1977. A revision of the damselfish genus Dascyllus (Pomacentridae) with description of a new species. Rec. Aust. Mus. 31(9):349-385. (Ref. 2746)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)
CITES (Ref. 94142)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates of some properties based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02291 (0.01934 - 0.02713), b=2.98 (2.93 - 3.03), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.42 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tmax=6; Fec=1,500-2,000).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low to moderate vulnerability (26 of 100) .
