Sergeant major (Atlantic) (Abudefduf saxatilis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Abudefduf saxatilis
- Common name
- Sergeant major (Atlantic)
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Genus
- Abudefduf
- Size
- 12–23 cm
- Depth
- 0–20 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, coral-reef
- Behaviours
- schooling, territorial
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Macaronesia, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific
Description
Abudefduf saxatilis reaches 23 cm. Amphi-Atlantic Abudefduf (Caribbean and tropical East Atlantic) with silver-white to yellow-olive body with 5 distinctive black vertical bands on flanks, very close cousin of A. luridus (Macaronesia batch 10) and A. troschelii (Eastern Pacific batch 16). Lives in active schools from 0 to 20 m on coastal rocky and coral reefs. Males guard demersal spawn (purple eggs glued on rocks). Very curious, follows divers. Accessible and common photo subject of tropical Atlantic dives.
Photo of Sergeant major (Atlantic)
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Sergeant major (Atlantic)?
- Sergeant major (Atlantic) (Abudefduf saxatilis) reaches 12–23 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Sergeant major (Atlantic)?
- Sergeant major (Atlantic) is found between 0–20 m deep.
- Is the Sergeant major (Atlantic) dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Sergeant major (Atlantic)?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Sergeant major (Atlantic)?
- Found in: Caribbean, Macaronesia, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Abudefduf
- Abudefduf luridus - Canary damsel
- Abudefduf troschelii - Panamic sergeant major
- Abudefduf concolor - Unicolored Sergeant Major
- Abudefduf vaigiensis - Indo-Pacific sergeant
Other species in the family Pomacentridae
- Chromis chromis - Mediterranean damselfish
- Amphiprion bicinctus - Two-band anemonefish
- Amphiprion ocellaris - False clownfish
- Chromis cyanea - Blue chromis
- Stegastes partitus - Bicolor damselfish
- Amphiprion akallopisos - Skunk clownfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 159288)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2398623)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia