Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes) > Microspathodontinae
Etymology: Stegastes: Greek, stegastos, -e, -on = covered (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 20 m (Ref. 9334). Tropical; 9°N - 2°S, 92°W - 77°W
Eastern Pacific: Costa Rica and from Cocos, Malpelo and Galapagos islands (Ref. 9334).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 13.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 7247); max. reported age: 27 years (Ref. 52465)
Adults inhabit coral and rocky reefs (Ref. 9334). Omnivorous (Ref. 9334). Adults are territorial and aggressive, vigorously driving off other fishes and certain invertebrates from their feeding and reproductive territories. They graze on algae and invertebrates including tubeworms, small crustaceans, and the tentacles of anemones (Ref. 28023). 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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
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. (Ref. 7247)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources