Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes) > Pomacentrinae
Etymology: Dascyllus: Greek, daskillys, -on = a kind of fish (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 50 m (Ref. 1602). Tropical; 30°N - 30°S
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 30874)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 12;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 14-16;
Anal
spines: 2;
Anal
soft rays: 12 - 14. Color variable according to ecological and behavioral conditions: basically body whitish with snout, interorbital and forehead greenish; black bar on anterior and a fainter one on posterior part of the body; blackish scale margins; pelvic fins mostly black; pectorals transparent with a spot on its base. Margins of preorbital, suborbital, and preoperculum finely serrated.
Pacific Ocean: Cocos-Keeling Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean to Samoa and the Line Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals (eastern Indian Ocean) and Lord Howe Island (Ref. 37816). Not found in the Hawaiian and Society islands and islands beyond. Replaced by Dascyllus carneus in the Indian Ocean (Ref. 37816).
Adults occur in outer lagoon and seaward reefs. They inhabit branching coral heads, particularly Pocillopora eydouxi. Form schools, often in silty habitats (Ref. 48636). Male prepares a nest by cleaning with its mouth a rock or coral surface where the female will attach the eggs (Ref. 5503). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205).
Randall, H.A. and G.R. Allen, 1977. A revision of the damselfish genus Dascyllus (Pomacentridae) with description of a new species. Rec. Aust. Mus. 31(9):349-385.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.03166 (-0.07504 - 0.13837), b=3.00 (2.93 - 3.07), based on LWR estimates for species & family-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.31 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.5).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (25 of 100) .