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Damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) — Pomacentridae

Damselfish

Pomacentrus bankanensis
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–32 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific; lagoons, reef flats and outer reef slopes.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The speckled damsel is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the western Pacific. The species has a yellow-brown to olive body, often with blue dotted lines on the head and an orangish tail zone. Adults live solitarily or in small groups in lagoons, on reef flats, in passages and on outer reef slopes, usually among coarse rubble. It is territorial and defends an algal patch. It grazes on algae and picks small zooplankton. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Damselfish?

The Damselfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Blue dotted lines on the head; territorial and defends a small algal garden.

Where does the Damselfish live?

The Damselfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific; lagoons, reef flats and outer reef slopes.

How big does the Damselfish get?

The Damselfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Damselfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Damselfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Damselfish edible?

The Damselfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) — Pomacentridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) mattdowse, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) juju98, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) — Pomacentridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Izuzuki (CC BY 3.0)
Damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis) — Pomacentridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)

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All data

Identification

English name
Damselfish verified
Scientific name
Pomacentrus bankanensis
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Fire damsel; Speckled damsel; Speckled damselfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown
Pattern
Plain
Tail shape
Forked
Mouth position
Terminal
Lips
Thin
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0 verified
Max depth (m)
32 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific; lagoons, reef flats and outer reef slopes.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae and small zooplankton sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
Yes
Activity
Diurnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Blue dotted lines on the head; territorial and defends a small algal garden. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Pomacentrus

More from the family Pomacentridae

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