Amblyglyphidodon indicus Allen & Randall, 2002
Maldives damselfish
Amblyglyphidodon indicus
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Pomacentridae (Damselfishes), subfamily: Pomacentrinae
Max. size:  8.3 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 15 m
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: from the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, the Maldives to the Andaman Sea, off northern tip of Sumatra at Weh I, (Indonesia) and coast of Thailand.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 2-2; Anal soft rays: 13-14; Vertebrae: 26-26. This species is distinguished by the following characters: D XIII,11-13 (usually 12); A II,13 (rarely 14); pectoral rays 17-18; tubed lateral-line scales 15-18; gill rakers 7-8 + 18-20 = 25-28); body depth 1.5-1.7 in SL; teeth incisiform and in a single row; scaled suborbital; predorsal scales extending well before the nostrils, nearly to base of upper lip; colouration silvery grading to yellowish white on the belly and lower sides; the back and dorsal part of head is mainly green; with a broad, vertically elongate greenish streak on each body scale; rear edges of preopercle and upper half of opercle are dusky grey; median fins translucent to greenish white, the lower and upper edge of caudal fin narrowly blackish; pelvic fins pale yellow to white; pectoral fins are translucent with small dark spot at base of uppermost rays (Ref. 82240).
Biology:  Presumed to be reef-associated (Ref. 206). Found in shallow waters on branching Acropora corals of inshore and outer reefs. Dead branches of corals serve as nests (Ref. 90102). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). Distribution allopatric except eastern Andaman Sea where its similar species A. leucogaster is rarely found (Ref. 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 November 2010 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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