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Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) — Pomacentridae

Threespot damsel

Pomacentrus tripunctatus
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–3.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) is a damselfish of the Indo-West Pacific, from Sri Lanka and the Andaman Sea through the Indo-Australian archipelago to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It grows to about 8 centimetres and lives reef-associated in very shallow water (0-3 metres), in turbid bays, silty coastal reefs and harbours with sparse coral and algal growth. The short, disc-shaped body is brownish. This diurnal fish feeds mainly on benthic algae. In spawning a distinct pair forms and the male guards the adhesive eggs on the bottom. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Threespot damsel?

The Threespot damsel has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Threespot damsel live?

The Threespot damsel lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Threespot damsel get?

The Threespot damsel grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Threespot damsel dangerous to humans?

No, the Threespot damsel is harmless to humans.

Is the Threespot damsel edible?

The Threespot damsel is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Driestippeljuffertje inferred
English name
Threespot damsel sourced
Scientific name
Pomacentrus tripunctatus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Damselfish; Threespot damsel verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
3.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal verified
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten inferred
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless 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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