Mediterranean damselfish (Chromis chromis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Chromis chromis
- Common name
- Mediterranean damselfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Size
- 8–15 cm
- Depth
- 0–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky reef, posidonia, coastal
- Behaviours
- schooling, diurnal, omnivore
- Ocean zones
- Mediterranean, East Atlantic
Description
The Mediterranean damselfish, or castañuela, is one of the most abundant fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. Adults are uniformly dark brown to black, while juveniles display a striking electric blue colour. They form large schools above rocky reefs and Posidonia seagrass beds, feeding on plankton and small invertebrates. Completely harmless to divers, they are often the first fish encountered on a Mediterranean dive.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Mediterranean damselfish?
- Mediterranean damselfish (Chromis chromis) reaches 8–15 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Mediterranean damselfish?
- Mediterranean damselfish is found between 0–50 m deep.
- Is the Mediterranean damselfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Mediterranean damselfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Mediterranean damselfish?
- Found in: Mediterranean, East Atlantic.
Other species in the family Pomacentridae
- Amphiprion bicinctus - Two-band anemonefish
- Amphiprion ocellaris - False clownfish
- Chromis cyanea - Blue chromis
- Stegastes partitus - Bicolor damselfish
- Amphiprion akallopisos - Skunk clownfish
- Chromis limbata - Azores chromis
Sources
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia