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Related FAQs: Damsels,
Damsels 2, Damsel Identification,
Damsel Systems, Damsel
Selection, Damsel Compatibility,
Damsel Behavior,
Damsel Systems, Damsel
Feeding, Damsel Disease, Damsel
Disease 2, Damsel Reproduction,
Related Articles:
Damselfish,
Clownfishes, Abudefduf,
Amblyglyphidodon, Chromis,
Chrysiptera, Dascyllus.
Dischistodus, Giant Damsels,
Garibaldi, Microspathodon,
Neoglyphidodon, Neopomacentrus,
Plectroglyphidodon, Pomacentrus,
Stegastes, Regional Accounts:
Clownfishes of Indonesia,
/Fishwatcher's Guide Series
Indonesian
Damselfishes, Family Pomacentridae (Sans Clownfishes) |
| | Bob Fenner |
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Genus Abudefduf:
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Abudefduf septemfasciatus (Cuvier 1830), the Banded Sergeant.
Indo-Pacific in surge zones. To nine inches long in the wild. Only
occasionally imported for our interests. This one in the Seychelles,
Indian Ocean. | 
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Abudefduf sexfasciatus (Lacepede 1801), the Scissor-Tail
Sergeant. Found all over the Indo-Pacific, but not Hawai'i. Not as
hardy in captivity as other Abudefduf species. To five inches long.
Fiji and N. Sulawesi pix. |  
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Abudefduf sordidus (Forsskal 1775), The Black-Spot Sergeant or
Dirty Damsel. Indo-Pacific, including Hawai'i. Lives in high surge
areas. To almost seven inches in length. Only occasionally imported
as a pet-fish. These images from the Maldives and Hawai'i. |  
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Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard 1825), the Indo-Pacific
Sergeant Major. Eastern coast of Africa and Red Sea, out to the Line
and Tuamotu Islands. To six inches long. Fourth black body bar
originates after hard dorsal fin. Here in the Red Sea and Northern
Sulawesi. |  
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Genus Acanthochromis: |
Acanthochromis polyacanthus (Bleeker 1855), the Spiny Chromis
(only member of the genus). Indo-Australian; inshore and off-shore
reefs. Notably the only species of Pomacentrid that instead of
having pelagic larval development, spawns, rears its young
cichlid-fashion. Australian images of a parent and young. |  
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Genus Amblypomacentrus: |
Amblypomacentrus breviceps (Schlegel & Muller 1839), the
Black-Banded Demoseille. Indo-Australian Archipelago; Indonesia,
Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Solomons. To 5.5 cm. Found on
sand, silt bottoms in association with sponges, small patches of
cnidarian life. N. Sulawesi pic. | 
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Genus Amblyglyphidodon |
Amblyglyphidodon aureus (Cuvier 1830), the Golden Damselfish.
This gorgeous yellow-gold damsel is found throughout the Indo-West
Pacific, the Andaman Sea, eastern Indian Ocean to Fiji, throughout
Micronesia. The Golden Damsel is mostly found in settings of
vertical reef walls amongst corals and gorgonians. The species feeds
almost exclusively on zooplankton. A juvenile and adult in Bunaken,
Sulawesi, Indonesia, the latter a more mature, less golden specimen
and one off of Pulau Redang, Malaysia. |
Amblyglyphidodon batunai Allen, 1995. |
No pic |
Amblyglyphidodon curacao
(Bloch 1787), the Staghorn Damselfish. From a distance the
Staghorn Damsel looks like a gussied-up Sergeant Major (Abudefduf)
species… with more yellow surrounding its vertical body bars,
greater reflectance and a taller/thinner, more stately overall shape
and demeanor. This species distribution masks much of the Golden
congeners… widely spread in the Indo-West Pacific, Malaysia to
Japan, south to Australia’s GBR, and throughout Micronesia. The
Staghorn Damsel is found in lagoons to outer reefs, often amongst
soft and Acroporid (Staghorn) corals, feeding on zooplankton and
filamentous algae. This one in Fiji, another in N. Sulawesi | 
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Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster (Bleeker
1847), the White- or Yellowbelly Damselfish. Quite variable
in appearance, as evidenced in its multiple common names, the
Yellow/Whitebelly Damsel may well be two distinct species… The
Indo-West Pacific (Melanesia, Micronesia, Ryukyus to the GBR) form
separate from the eastern Africa into Red Sea one. Both are
beautiful and aquarium-desirable varieties, found on reef slopes,
passages and lagoons. This species too is a generalized
zooplanktivore, feeding on crustaceans (copepods, mysids, amphipods,
other crustacean larvae), fish eggs, and some algae. Fiji specimen
at right. Below, left to right: from the Red Sea,
Bunaken/Sulawesi/Indonesia, and the Maldives. | 
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Amblyglyphidodon ternatensis (Bleeker, 1853), the Ternate Damsel.
Western Pacific. To four inches in length. |
No pic |
Genus Chromis: |
Chromis alpha Randall 1988, the Yellow-Speckled Chromis. Western
and central southern Pacific, plus eastern Indian Ocean. To about
three inches in length. A touchier species that rarely makes its way
into the hobby, mainly from Fiji. One in Bunaken/Sulawesi/Indonesia,
another in Fiji. | 
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Chromis amboinensis (Bleeker 1873), the Ambon Chromis.
West-central Pacific; Cocos-Keeling Islands to Samoa and the
Marshall Islands. To three inches in length. This one off of
Queensland, Australia. | 
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Chromis analis (Cuvier 1830), Yellow Chromis. To 17 cm. in
length. Western Pacific; Japan, Australia, Fiji. One in Fiji,
another in N. Sulawesi. |  
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Chromis atripectoralis Welander & Schultz 1951, the Black-Axil
Chromis. Very similar to the oh-so-common Blue Chromis, C. viridis,
but distinguished by a prominent black blotch at their insertion to
the pectoral fins. Indo-Pacific but not Hawai'i. This specimen in
Australian waters. To four and a half inches in length. | 
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Chromis caudalis Randall 1988, the Dusky Chromis. Eastern Indian
and western Pacific Oceans. To three inches in length. Mainly
imported from the Marshalls and Indonesia. A hardy species if
shipped properly and not nicked. This one in
Bunaken/Sulawesi/Indonesia. | 
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Chromis dimidiata (Klunzinger 1871), the Two-tone Chromis.
Indian Ocean and Red Sea (origin of this image). To two inches
overall length. A more common offering in European pet-fish markets.
Red Sea image. | 
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Chromis margaritifer Fowler 1926, the Bicolor Chromis.
Indo-Pacific. To three and a half inches in length. This one odd of
Pulau Redang, Malaysia. | 
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Chromis retrofasciata Weber 1913, the Blackbar Chromis. Western
Pacific; Indonesia to Fiji to the Ryukyus and New Caledonia. To two
inches in length. N. Sulawesi pic. | 
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Chromis viridis (Cuvier 1830), the Blue-Green Chromis.
Widespread in the Indo-Pacific and in marine and reef aquarium
usage. The darling damsel of reefkeepers. To three inches maximum
length. Formerly (and often still) identified as Chromis cyanea.
One of many in Australia, and a grouping in Nuka Hiva, Marquesas,
Polynesia. |  
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Chromis weberi Fowler & Bean 1928, Weber's Chromis.
Indo-Pacific; Red Sea, East Africa to Micronesia. To 13.5 cm. in
length. Found singly or in groups at tops of steep reef edges. Red
Sea image. | 
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Genus Chrysiptera: |
Chrysiptera biocellata (Quoy & Gaimard 1825), the Twinspot
Damsel, Twospot Demoiselle... Indo-west Pacific, Africa's east coast
out to Samoa. To three inches in length. Offered in the trade from
time to time. Can be feisty toward other tankmates... should be kept
with tough fishes only. Pictured is an adult (2") in the Maldives. | 
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Chrysiptera bleekeri (Fowler & Bean 1928), Bleeker's Damsel.
Western Central Pacific; Timor, Flores (and this report of Lombok),
Indonesia and the Philippines. To about three inches in length.
Photos made off of Gili Air and N. Sulawesi, Indonesia. | 
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Chrysiptera cyanea (Quoy & Gaimard 1825), the Blue Devil/Damsel.
Likely the most commonly used member of the Damsel family by the
aquarium interest. Western Pacific over to the bare eastern edge of
the Indian Ocean. To two and a half inches in length. Variably blue
with some orange yellow on fins. Aquarium specimens shown below. |
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Chrysiptera hemicyanea (Weber 1913), the Azure Demoiselle. 7 cm..
Indo-West Pacific; Eastern Indian Ocean, Indonesia. Aquarium image. | 
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Chrysiptera parasema (Fowler 1918), the Yellow-Tail Blue Damsel.
Contending for first place as "most used member of the family of
Damselfishes". From the western Pacific. To two and a half inches.
Hardy and relatively easygoing. One in an aquarium, another in N.
Sulawesi by RMF and another aquarium shot by Hiroyuki Tanaka. |
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Chrysiptera rollandi (Whitley 1961), Rolland's Demoiselle.
Indo-Australia Archipelago. To a mere one and three quarters inch in
length. In Pulau Redang, Malaysia, and N. Sulawesi. | 
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Chrysiptera talboti (Allen 1975), Talbot's Damsel. Indo-West
Pacific. To about two inches maximum length. A great little Damsel
for reef aquariums. Regularly collected for the ornamental trade in
Fiji. Australian, Fiji and N. Sulawesi images. |
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Chrysiptera unimaculata (Cuvier 1830), the One spot Demoiselle.
Indo-west Pacific, Red Sea. Highly variable in markings, color, from
east coast of Africa to Fiji. This juvenile and sub-adult in the
Maldives. To three inches overall in length. Imported as juveniles that
turn overall brownish with age. | 
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Genus Dascyllus: |
Dascyllus aruanus (Linnaeus 1758), the Whitetail Dascyllus to
science, more commonly called the Three-Striped Damsel to aquarists.
Indo-west Pacific: Red Sea, Africa's eastern coast to the Tuamotus
in the Pacific. To four inches. Aquarium and Red Sea photos. |  
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Dascyllus carneus Fischer 1885, the Cloudy Damsel. Widespread in
the Indian Ocean. Occasionally offered in the aquarium trade. To two
and a half inches in length. Lives around branching corals. Adult
and juv.s in N. Sulawesi (Lembeh Strait). |  
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Dascyllus melanurus Bleeker 1854, the Four-Stripe Damsel or
Blacktail Humbug. Indo-Australian Archipelago. To three inches
overall length. Typically found about isolated coral heads. | 
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Dascyllus reticulatus (Richardson 1846), the Reticulate
Dascyllus. East Indian Ocean, west Pacific. To three and a half
inches in length. A specimen in Australia, and in S. Sulawesi. |  
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Dascyllus trimaculatus (Ruppell 1829), the Three-Spot Damsel or
Domino. Indo-west Pacific. To five and a half inches in length.
Lives on coral and rocky reefs.... and so feisty, it bites the hands
of the aquarists who feed it! Three color varieties shown below and
a group of juveniles in association with an anemone in Mabul,
Malaysia and Ras Mohamed, Egypt's Red Sea at right. | 
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Genus Dischistodus: |
Dischistodus melanotus (Bleeker 1858), the Black-Vent Damsel.
Western Pacific distribution (this one in Indonesia). To five inches
overall length. | 
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Dischistodus perspicillatus (Cuvier 1830), the White Damsel.
Indo-West Pacific. To six inches in length. This one off of Pulau
Redang, Malaysia. | 
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Dischistodus prosopotaenia (Bleeker 1852), the Honey-Head
Damsel. Indo-West Pacific. To six inches in length. A juvenile in
Heron Island waters, GBR, Australia, an intermediate size one and
five inch adult (that bit me!) in N. Sulawesi (so I took its
picture). |
Genus Neoglyphidodon: |
Neoglyphidodon crossi Allen 1991, Cross' Damsel. Indo-Malayan
Archipelago: known only from Sulawesi and the Molucca Islands. To
four inches. Aquarium image | 
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Neoglyphidodon nigroris (Cuvier 1830), Behn's Damsel. Western
Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean. To three and a half inches in
length. The bright yellow and two horizontal black band juveniles
are used quite often in the trade. Here's a juvenile off Heron
Island, Australia. and subadult in Bunaken/Sulawesi/Indonesia. |
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Neoglyphidodon oxyodon (Bleeker 1858), the most commonly named
"Jewel Damsel" in the aquarium interest is called the Javanese Damsel to
science. Indo-Australian Archipelago. To six inches total length, and a
tough customer nearing larger size. | 
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Genus Neopomacentrus:
Genus Plectroglyphidodon: |
Plectroglyphidodon dickii (Lienard 1839), the Blackbar Devil. To
four or so inches in length. Indo-Pacific; East Africa to the
Tuamotus. This one in Fiji. Associated with Acropora, Pocillopora
spp. corals. Feeds on filamentous algae, benthic crustaceans, small
fishes. | 
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Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus (Fowler & Ball 1924), the
Johnston Island Damsel. Despite its common name this species is
found in the Indo-Pacific, eastern Africa to Hawai'i (where this
image is from). To two and a half inches long. | 
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Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus (Quoy & Gaimard 1825), the Jewel
Damsel, Whitespotted Devil. Indo-west Pacific, eastern Africa and
Red Sea to the Society Islands. One in Fiji, another in N. Sulawesi. |  
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Genus Pomacentrus: |
Pomacentrus alleni Burgess 1981, Allen's or Andaman Damselfish.
Andaman Sea, the Similans off of Thailand. A hardy beauty that grows
to a maximum of two inches and does well living solitarily. This one
in a reef aquarium by itself. | 
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Pomacentrus auriventris Allen 1991, the Yellow-belly or
Goldbelly Damsel. Indo-Malay Peninsula, Caroline Islands. To 5.5 cm.
Found near bottom, principally about rubble slopes. N. Sulawesi
pix. |  
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Pomacentrus caeruleus Quoy & Gaimard 1825, the Caerulean Damsel.
Western Indian Ocean, eastern Africa to the Maldives. To four inches
maximum. A Damselfish beauty that deserves to be imported much more
frequently. This one in the Maldives. | 
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Pomacentrus chrysurus Cuvier 1830, the Whitetail Damsel.
Indo-west Pacific. To about three inches in length. A better looking
individual, with a broad yellow dorsal band and ocellus, the adults
(pictured) are overall slate colored with a white tail. Maldives
image. | 
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Pomacentrus coelestis Jordan & Starks 1901, one of the Neon
Damsels. To three and a half inches in length. Widespread in the
Indo-Pacific, and a common import. This is a feisty damselfish
species, best kept as the only Damsel type in a tank, and allowing a
good fifteen gallons plus per specimen. An alpha male in the Cooks,
one in Fiji. |  
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Pomacentrus moluccensis (Bleeker 1853), the Lemon Damsel.
Eastern Indian and western Pacific Oceans. To two inches in length.
This little beauty is occasionally imported from Fiji (where the
first picture was taken), Tonga and Vanuatu. Second image, Heron
Island, Australia. Third, N. Sulawesi. |
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Pomacentrus nigromanus Weber 1913, the Goldback Damsel. Western
Central Pacific. To 9 cm. This one in S. Sulawesi. | 
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Pomacentrus pavo (Bloch 1787), the Sapphire or Peacock Damsel.
Indo-Pacific. To three inches in length. A hardy beauty for peaceful
all-fish as well as reef tanks. Can be kept singly. This one
photographed in the Maldives. | 
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Pomacentrus philippinus (Evermann & Seale 1907), the Philippine
Damsel. Western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans. Variable in
amount of yellow coloring by vicinity. To three inches in length.
One in the Maldives where only their tails are yellow, and another
in Mabul, Malaysia. |  
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Pomacentrus reidi Fowler & Bean 1928, Reid's Damsel.
Indo-Australian; Philippines, Celebes, Australia, Solomon's. To 9
cm. Found on steep, outer reef slopes, typically solitarily. N.
Sulawesi pix. |  
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Pomacentrus vaiuli Jordan & Seale 1906, the Ocellated
Damselfish. Western Pacific to Eastern Indian Ocean. To four inches
in length, and as territorial as the genus comes... hangs out on its
patch of Acroporid coral in the wild, and best kept this way with
plenty of room (at least twenty gallons to each) in captivity.
Juveniles in the Cooks and N. Sulawesi shown (bottom one a half inch
long), and one mid-age in Fiji.
Color variable, some with a yellowish dorsal region grading to blue. |
Genus Stegastes: |
Stegastes fasciolatus (Ogilby 1889), the Pacific Gregory.
Indo-west Pacific. Not a great beauty and at up to six inches in
length, a handful. But an interesting, intelligent addition to a
rougher aquarium setting. These images younger to older individuals
in Hawai'i. |
Bibliography/Further Reading: Allen,
Gerald R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications,
Neptune City, N.J. Allen, Gerald R. 1976. How many
sergeant majors? Marine Aquarist 7(6):76. Allen,
Gerald R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Aquarium Systems, Mentor,
Ohio. American Society of Ichthyologists and
Herpetologists, 1978. The Biology of the Damselfishes a symposium held
during the 56th annual meeting of the ASIH. Rosentiel School of Mar. &
Atm. Sci. U. of Miami, 1980, 145-328. Burgess,
Warren E. 1981. Pomacentrus alleni and Pomacentrus thiellei,
two new species of Pomacentrids (Pisces: Pomacentridae) from the
Indo-Pacific. TFH 11/81. Emmens, C.W. 1984.
Damselfishes. TFH 9/84. Fenner, Robert. 1998. The
Conscientious Marine Aquarist. Microcosm, VT. 432pp.
Fenner, Robert. 1999. The indomitable damsels- Family Pomacentridae. TFH
1/99. Gronell, A.M., 1984. Look-alike damsels. TFH
32(8) 48-53. Howe, Jeffrey C. 1995. Original
descriptions: Colombo damsel Pomacentrus proteus Allen, 1991.
FAMA 8/95.
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