Blacktail Dascyllus (Dascyllus melanurus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Dascyllus melanurus
- Common name
- Blacktail Dascyllus
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Genus
- Dascyllus
- Size
- 5–8 cm
- Depth
- 2–30 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, schooling, diurnal
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Dascyllus melanurus reaches 5-8 cm. Gray-white body with sharply contrasting black tail and white spots on flanks. Widespread throughout tropical Indo-Pacific at 2-30 m depth, preferring branching acropora colonies. Forms dense aggregations around its host colonies. Highly territorial and aggressive toward conspecifics.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Blacktail Dascyllus?
- Blacktail Dascyllus (Dascyllus melanurus) reaches 5–8 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Blacktail Dascyllus?
- Blacktail Dascyllus is found between 2–30 m deep.
- Is the Blacktail Dascyllus dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Blacktail Dascyllus?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Blacktail Dascyllus?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Dascyllus
- Dascyllus trimaculatus - Three-spot damsel
- Dascyllus aruanus - Humbug dascyllus
- Dascyllus reticulatus - Reticulated Dascyllus
Other species in the family Pomacentridae
- Amphiprion ocellaris - False clownfish
- Chromis chromis - Mediterranean damselfish
- Amphiprion bicinctus - Two-band anemonefish
- Abudefduf saxatilis - Sergeant major (Atlantic)
- Chromis cyanea - Blue chromis
- Stegastes partitus - Bicolor damselfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 278451)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 5212037)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia