Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Perciformes (Perch-likes) >
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes) > Pomacentrinae
Etymology: Abudefduf: Arabic, abu = father; this fish is the leader of the reef against other species (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - 15 m (Ref. 30874). Tropical; 36°N - 39°S, 26°E - 143°W
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 12.0  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4391)
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and eastern Africa to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia. Recorded in Bay of Islands, New Zealand (Ref. 35942). Often confused with the closely related Atlantic species Abudefduf saxatilis (Ref. 7247). Replaced by Abudefduf abdominalis in the Hawaiian Islands (Ref. 37816).
Adults inhabit upper edge of outer reef slopes and inshore rocky reefs. Juveniles associated with drifting seaweed (Ref. 12114, 12115). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Feed on zooplankton, benthic algae, and small invertebrates (Ref. 1602). Often in aggregations (Ref. 9710), in large numbers at spawning sites that are timed with large tides that carry their pelagic offspring far offshore (Ref. 48636). 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).
Allen, G.R., 1991. Damselfishes of the world. Mergus Publishers, Melle, Germany. 271 p.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)
Human uses
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
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Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02087 (-0.10293 - 0.14466), b=3.01 (2.94 - 3.09), based on LWR estimates for species & family-BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 2.6 ±0.4 se; Based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.85).
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (16 of 100) .