Teleostei (teleosts) >
Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes) > Pomacentrinae
Etymology: Pomacentrus: Greek, poma, -atos = cover, operculum + Greek, kentron = sting (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Jordan & Starks.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 1 - 20 m (Ref. 9710). Tropical; 36°N - 32°S, 79°E - 133°W
Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Central Pacific: Sri Lanka to the Line and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and Lord Howe Island.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Adults inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs, close to the bottom among rubble beds. Feed on zooplankton and to a lesser extent on benthic algae. Juveniles often school among soft corals. Adults in small groups or congregate in large numbers over favorable sections of reef (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).
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
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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