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Honey damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) — Pomacentridae

Honey damselfish

Stegastes diencaeus
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Honey damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
12.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–45.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The longfin damselfish is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae from the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species grows to about 13 cm; juveniles are dark with bright blue lines and a yellow tinge, adults uniformly dark brown. It inhabits coral and rocky reefs of sheltered lagoons and inshore areas. It is a strongly territorial species that maintains a 'garden' of algae on the reef and fiercely defends it against intruders, even much larger fishes. As an omnivore it grazes mainly algae, supplemented with small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Honey damselfish?

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

Where does the Honey damselfish live?

The Honey damselfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Honey damselfish get?

The Honey damselfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Honey damselfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Honey damselfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Honey damselfish edible?

The Honey damselfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Langvin-juffertje sourced
English name
Honey damselfish verified
Scientific name
Stegastes diencaeus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Honey damselfish; Longfin Damselfish; Longfin damselfish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
45.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. 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 Stegastes

More from the family Pomacentridae

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