Family Pomacentridae

Damselfishes and Anemonefishes

The damselfish family contains many species and members are abundant throughout the world's warm waters.  They have a variety of lifestyles including algae farmers, zooplankton feeders, and partners with sea anemones.  Many are territorial and males may maintain a harem of females.  Males create and guard nests of tiny eggs until they hatch, sporting a special nuptial coloration.  Avoid getting too close to a nest as wrasses and butterflyfishes will take advantage of the situation when the male is distracted.  In extreme cases the male may bite you!  Juveniles often have a different coloration from adults.

 

HAWAII

Abudefduf abdominalis   

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 20 feet

 

Fertilizing eggs, Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 35 feet

Nests, Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 35 feet

 

Juvenile, Firehouse, Oahu, 25 feet

Juvenile, Firehouse, Oahu, 25 feet

HAWAIIAN SERGEANT        MAMO or MAOMAO      Hawaiian Oyabitcha

Endemic to Hawaii.  Attains 9 inches.  Found in aggregations above rocky reefs feeding upon zooplankton.  Nests contain purple eggs.  Juveniles are greenish-gray with a yellow center and broad black bars.  Related species in tropical seas worldwide.

Abudefduf abdominalis x A. vaigiensis

Portlock, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Tonggs Wreck, Oahu, 15 feet

Tonggs Wreck, Oahu, 15 feet

Tonggs Wreck, Oahu, 15 feet

HYBRID HAWAIIAN SERGEANT

Possibly a hybrid photographed at Portlock Point on Oahu.  One also seen at Midway Atoll in 2000.  Bold bars and yellow dorsally similar to A. vaigiensis.

Abudefduf vaigiensis

Manana Island, Oahu, 20 feet

Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii, 15 feet

INDO-PACIFIC SERGEANT

Breeding population stablished in Hawaii in the late 1990's.  Possibly reached Hawaii as juveniles hiding among drifting nets or debris.  Dark blue bars on body and caudal fin, bright yellow below dorsal fin.  Common throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Abudefduf sordidus

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 4 feet

 

Nuptial colors, Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 5 feet

Juvenile, Mokuleia tidepool, Oahu

 

Juvenile, Kaupo tidepool, Oahu

Juvenile, Kaupo tidepool, Oahu

 

Juvenile, Kaupo tidepool, Oahu

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 3 feet

BLACKSPOT SERGEANT        KUPIPI

Common on reef flats and tidepools.  A solitary, pugnacious omnivore.  Attains 9 inches.  Nuptial males are nearly black & white.  Juveniles are gray and cream with black saddles.  Indo-Pacific including Hawaii.

Chromis agilis

Sharkfin, Lana'i, 50 feet

 

Okoe Bay, Hawaii, 40 feet

100ft Hole, Oahu, 85 feet

 

100ft Hole, Oahu, 85 feet

Sea Tiger Wreck, Oahu, 85 feet

Juvenile, Sea Tiger, Oahu, 90 feet

 

Juvenile, Sea Tiger, Oahu, 90 feet

   AGILE CHROMIS

Common in small aggregations at scuba depths.  Feeds upon zooplankton and attains 4 inches.  Golden brown with pink or blue cast and black spot at pectoral base.  Indo-Pacific including Hawaii.

Chromis hanui   

Mahukona, Hawaii, 40 feet

Nuptial colors, Airplane, Wai'anae, Oahu, 100 feet

 

Sea Tiger Wreck, Oahu, 85 feet

 

Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 45 feet

Sea Cave, Oahu, 65 feet

CHOCOLATE-DIP CHROMIS

Endemic to Hawaii.  Common on reefs at scuba depths.  Feeds upon zooplankton.  Attains 3 inches.  Several related species throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Chromis leucura

Kaumalapau Harbor, Lanai, 120 feet

WHITETAIL CHROMIS

Found in groups among rubble and ledges deeper than 80 feet.  Body is blue-black with a black and yellow spot at base of pectoral fin, pelvic fins yellow.  Attains 2.5 inches.  Spotty distribution includes Hawaii, Marquesas, New Caledonia, Okinawa, Sumatra, Mauritius, and Reunion.

Chromis ovalis   

Peek-a-boo, Midway, 40 feet

 

Turtle Craters, Oahu, 25 feet

Juvenile, Firehouse, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Juvenile, Makaha, Oahu, 35 feet

Nuptial colors, Macaw Wreck, Midway, 20 feet

 

Subadult, Waimea Bay, Oahu, 30 feet

Subadult, Firehouse, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Kewalo Pipe, Oahu, 50 feet

Nuptial, Baby Barge, Oahu, 75 feet

 

Nuptial, Baby Barge, Oahu, 75 feet

Nuptial, Baby Barge, Oahu, 75 feet

Nuptial, Baby Barge, Oahu, 75 feet

Juvenile, Makua, Oahu, 10 feet

   OVAL CHROMIS

Endemic to Hawaii.  Attains 9 inches.  Found in aggregations at scuba depths feeding upon zooplankton.  Gray with brassy or bluish cast.  Juveniles are neon blue with yellow dorsally and common during summer months.

Chromis vanderbilti

Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 40 feet

 

Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii, 35 feet

Sharkfin, Lana'i, 60 feet

Lanai Lookout, Oahu, 45 feet

 BLACKFIN CHROMIS

Common in aggregations feeding upon zooplankton just above the reef at scuba depths.  Attains 2.5 inches.  Lower lobe of caudal fin is always black.  Japan through Oceania and Hawaii.

Chromis acares

Poloa, Tutuila, American Samoa, 30 feet

MIDGET CHROMIS

Uncommon on coral reefs at scuba depths, very rare in Hawaii.  Caudal fin is yellow; lower lobe of caudal fin black in C. vanderbilti.  Attains 2 inches.  Tropical Pacific.

Chromis verater   

Chromis, Midway Atoll, 40 feet

 

Angel Ledge, Midway Atoll, 80 feet

 

YO-257 Wreck, Waikiki, Oahu, 60 feet

 

YO-257 Wreck, Waikiki, Oahu, 60 feet

Juvenile, Keauhou, Hawaii, 80 feet

Juvenile, YO-257 Wreck, Waikiki, Oahu, 100 feet

  THREESPOT CHROMIS

Endemic to Hawaii.  Locally common in deeper water feeding upon zooplankton.  Black to gray; 3 white spots usually present before caudal fin.  Attains 9 inches.

Dascyllus albisella    

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 30 feet

 

Fish Hole, Midway Atoll, 30 feet

 

Juvenile, Pupukea, Oahu, 30 feet

 

Juvenile, Haleiwa, Oahu, 30 feet

 

Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii, 35 feet

 

Main Channel, Midway Atoll, 30 feet

 

Night coloration, Puako, Hawaii, 40 feet

 

Koko Craters, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Kewalo, Oahu, 15 feet

 

Kewalo, Oahu, 50 feet

 

Kewalo, Oahu, 50 feet

 

Kewalo, Oahu, 50 feet

 

Sea Tiger Wreck, Oahu, 85 feet

    HAWAIIAN DASCYLLUS        ALO'ILO'I

Endemic to Hawaii.  Attains 5 inches.  Common among Antler and large Cauliflower corals where they take refuge.  Feeds upon zooplankton.  Juveniles have tall fins and one or two bluish white marks dorsally.  May appear black with round white spot at mid-dorsal region.  Related to Dascyllus trimaculatus of the Indo-Pacific.

Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis

Koloa Landing, Kaua`i, 12 feet

 

Eggs, Sharks Cove tidepool, Oahu, Hawaii

Juvenile, Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

 

Juvenile, Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

Night, Makapu'u tidepool, Oahu

BRIGHTEYE DAMSELFISH

Common on shallow reefs and tidepools.  A solitary and pugnacious fish that darts rapidly between holes in the reef.  Feeds upon small invertebrates and attains 2.5 inches.  Greenish gray with yellow at rear; bright silver eye with black bar through it.  Indo-Pacific including Hawaii.

Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

 

Juvenile, Waimea Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

Juvenile, Waimea Bay, Oahu, 25 feet

Juvenile, Sharks Cove, Oahu, 20 feet

BLUEEYE DAMSELFISH

A solitary inhabitant of large Pocillopora corals.  Olive green, darker at rear, with neon blue fin edges and eyes.  Feeds upon coral polyps and attains 4 inches.  Indo-Pacific coloration is yellow with diffuse black bar at rear.  Indo-Pacific including Hawaii.

Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, 6 feet

ROCK DAMSELFISH

Extremely rare as a waif in Hawaii.  Inhabits the surge zone.  Occurs at scattered localities in the Indo-Pacific.  Attains 3 inches.  For more info see John Hoover's page.

Plectroglyphidodon sindonis   

Hanauma Bay, Oahu, 10 feet

Makapu'u, Oahu, 6 feet

 

Makapu'u, Oahu, 6 feet

Makapu'u, Oahu, 6 feet

ROCK DAMSELFISH

Endemic to Hawaii.  Uncommon in surge zone of rocky shores and young in tidepools.  Solitary and feeds primarily upon algae.  Attains 5 inches.  Brown with black-edged scales and two light bars.  Juveniles are brown with white bars and large black spot at base of soft dorsal fin.

Stegastes marginatus   

Palea Point, Oahu, 25 feet

Juvenile, Pupukea, Oahu, 30 feet

 HAWAIIAN GREGORY

Endemic to Hawaii.  A very common solitary inhabitant of shallow reefs.  Yellow eyes.  Attains 5 inches.  Maintains crop of algae as food.  Vigorously defends it home 'turf' from surgeonfishes and other damselfishes.  Juveniles have neon blue fin margins and yellow peduncle.  Formerly known as Stegastes fasciolatus from the Tropical Pacific.

 


INDO-PACIFIC

Abudefduf sexfasciatus

Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan, 5 feet

SIX-BAR or SCISSORSTAIL SERGEANT

Common on reefs to 50 feet.  Attains 9 inches.  Indo-Pacific, including Japan, absent from Hawaii.

Abudefduf semptemfasciatus

Nuptial colors, Wakatobi, Indonesia, 5 feet

SEVEN-BAR SERGEANT

Common in shallow water exposed to surge.  Attains 8 inches.  Indo-Pacific, including Japan, absent from Hawaii.

Amblyglyphidodon curacao

Moon Beach, Okinawa, Japan, 15 feet

STAGHORN DAMSELFISH

Common on Acropora-rich reefs.  Attains 4.5 inches.  Indonesia to Okinawa, Micronesia, & Samoa.

Chromis analis

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 80 feet

YELLOW CHROMIS

Uncommon along dropoffs in deeper water.  Attains 8 inches.  Western Pacific to Japan & Fiji.

Chromis atripectoralis

Poloa, American Samoa, 40 feet

BLACKSPOT CHROMIS

Fairly common among branching coral in shallow water.  Dark spot at base of pectoral fin.  About 4.5 inches.  Seychelles to Okinawa and Tahiti, except Hawaii.

Chromis caudalis

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 50 feet

 BLUE-AXIL CHROMIS

Found along dropoffs at scuba depths.  Attains 3 inches.  Indonesia to the Solomons & Pohnpei.

Chromis xanthura

Juvenile, Poloa, Tutuila, American Samoa, 30 feet

Poloa, Tutuila, American Samoa, 30 feet

 VARIABLE CHROMIS

Found along dropoffs at scuba depths.  Tail may be dark or light.  Attains 7 inches.  Indonesia & the Tropical Pacific.

Chrysiptera glauca 

Sliding Rock tidepool, Tutuila, American Samoa

 GRAY DAMSELFISH

Found in shallow water among rubble.  Attains 4.5 inches.  Indo-Pacific. 

Chrysiptera parasema

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 10 feet

GOLDTAIL DAMSELFISH

Locally common in shallow water with branching corals.  Attains 2.5 inches.  Okinawa to Sulawesi, New Guinea, and the Solomons.

Chrysiptera taupou

Breakers Point, American Samoa, 20 feet

SAMOAN DAMSELFISH or SOUTH SEAS DEVIL

Common on shallow reefs.  Attains 2.5 inches.  Coral Sea to Samoa.  Related to Chrysiptera cyanea.

Chrysiptera rollandi 

Waikiki Aquarium

ROLLAND'S DAMSELFISH

Inhabits coral reefs to 100 feet.  Attains 3 inches.  Andaman Sea to Tonga.

Chrysiptera rex 

Moon Beach, Okinawa, 10 feet

KING DAMSELFISH

Inhabits coral reefs in shallow water.  Attains 3 inches.  Okinawa to Palau, GBR, and New Caledonia.

Dascyllus aruanus

Faga'alu, American Samoa, 10 feet

HUMBUG DASCYLLUS

Common among branching corals in shallow lagoons and bays.  Caudal fin is white, D melanurus has black tail.  Attains 3 inches.  Indo-Pacific and Red Sea except Hawaii.

Dischistodus perspicillatus

Wakatobi, Indonesia, 4 feet

WHITE DAMSELFISH

Inhabits shallow lagoons and seagrasses.  Attains 8 inches.  Eastern Indian Ocean through the Western Pacific.

Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus

Wakatobi, Indonesia

JEWEL DAMSELFISH

Common on reefs in clear water to 120 feet.  Attains 4.5 inches.  Indo-Pacific and Red Sea except Hawaii.

Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus

Sliding Rock tidepool, Tutuila, American Samoa

WHITEBAR DAMSELFISH

Inhabits surge zone.  Attains 4.5 inches.  Indo-Pacific except Hawaii.

Neoglyphidodon melas

Juvenile, Moon Beach, Okinawa, Japan

Maeda Point, Okinawa, Japan

BOWTIE DAMSELFISH

Inhabits coral reefs among soft corals & Tridacna clams.  Attains 4.5 inches.  Red Sea & East Africa to Okinawa & Vanuatu.


INDIAN OCEAN

Pomacentrus similis

Waikiki Aquarium

SIMILAR DAMSELFISH

Inhabits shallow reefs.  Attains 3 inches.  Sri Lanka & the Andaman Sea.


CALIFORNIA

Hypsypops rubicunda

Juvenile, Rock Quarry, Catalina Island, 5 feet

 

Juvenile, Rock Quarry, Catalina Island, 5 feet

 

Long Point, Catalina Island, 30 feet

 

Long Point, Catalina Island, 30 feet

 

Rock Quarry, Catalina Island, 20 feet

 

Long Point, Catalina Island, 30 feet

GARIBALDI

Common in kelp forests of Southern California and the Pacific coast of the Baja peninsula.  Up to 12 inches.  State fish of California; illegal to capture or sell.

Chromis punctipinnis

Rock Quarry, Catalina Is. California, 20 feet

BLACKSMITH

Abundant in kelp forests of Southern California.  Up to 7 inches.


TROPICAL EASTERN PACIFIC

Chromis atrilobata

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 30 feet

SCISSORSTAIL CHROMIS

Common along reefs feeding upon zooplankton.  Attains 5 inches.  Gulf of California to Peru.

Chromis limbaughi

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 100 feet

Juvenile, Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, 60 feet

LIMBAUGH'S CHROMIS

Uncommon on rocky reefs at scuba depths.  Attains 5 inches.  Endemic to the Gulf of California.

Microspathodon dorsalis

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, 20 feet

GIANT DAMSELFISH

Inhabits rocky reefs from the Gulf of California to Ecuador.  Attains 12 inches.

Stegastes acapulcoensis

Juvenile, Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 40 feet

Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, 40 feet

ACAPULCO GREGORY

Inhabits rocky reefs from Mexico to Peru.  Attains 7 inches.

Stegastes flavilatus

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, 20 feet

Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, 20 feet

BEAUBRUMMEL GREGORY

Inhabits rocky reefs at scuba depths from the lower Gulf of California to Ecuador.  Attains 6 inches.


TROPICAL WESTERN ATLANTIC

Abudefduf saxatilis

Paradise Cove, Grand Bahama, 6 feet

CARIBBEAN SERGEANT

Chromis cyanea

Grand Bahama, 50 feet

BLUE CHROMIS

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