Home · Pomacentridae · Ward's damsel
Ward's damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) — Pomacentridae

Ward's damsel

Pomacentrus wardi
Family: Pomacentridae

The Ward's damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1–20 m
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Viet Nam

Want the complete picture on the Ward's damsel?

Description

The Ward's damsel is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the southwest Pacific, around Australia. The species grows to about 8 cm. The brown body bears an eyespot on the dorsal fin; it fiercely defends an algal garden. As a reef-dweller it lives around coral and rocky reefs and eats zooplankton and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Ward's damsel?

The Ward's damsel has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Ward's damsel live?

The Ward's damsel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Viet Nam

How big does the Ward's damsel get?

The Ward's damsel grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Ward's damsel dangerous to humans?

No, the Ward's damsel is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Ward's damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) — Pomacentridae — 2
Sam (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Ward's damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Sam, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Ward's damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) — Pomacentridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble (CC BY 2.0)
Ward's damsel (Pomacentrus wardi) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) John Sear, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

Want the complete picture on the Ward's damsel?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Ward's damsel is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Ward's damsel sourced
Scientific name
Pomacentrus wardi
Family
Pomacentridae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1 verified
Max depth (m)
20 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Viet Nam sourced
Origin
Native

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus
Territorial
Yes
Activity
Diurnal
Reproduction
Separate sexes
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pomacentrus

More from the family Pomacentridae

Want the complete picture on the Ward's damsel?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Ward's damsel is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Ward's damsel?