Acapulco damselfish (Stegastes acapulcoensis)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Stegastes acapulcoensis
- Common name
- Acapulco damselfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Genus
- Stegastes
- Size
- 12–18 cm
- Depth
- 0–20 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, coral-reef
- Behaviours
- territorial
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Stegastes acapulcoensis reaches 18 cm. Small Pomacentridae endemic to Eastern Pacific (Gulf of California to Peru). Uniformly olive-brown to black body with distinctive yellow-green band at tail base and sometimes on fins. Bright blue-yellow juveniles changing with age. Extremely territorial, aggressively defends its algal territory against much larger fish (and divers). Lives from 0 to 20 m on coastal rocky and coral reefs. Herbivore grazing algae on rocks it cultivates. Pacific cousin of Caribbean Stegastes (4 species already in base). Easy and expressive photo subject.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Acapulco damselfish?
- Acapulco damselfish (Stegastes acapulcoensis) reaches 12–18 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Acapulco damselfish?
- Acapulco damselfish is found between 0–20 m deep.
- Is the Acapulco damselfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Acapulco damselfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Acapulco damselfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Stegastes
- Stegastes partitus - Bicolor damselfish
- Stegastes adustus - Dusky damselfish
- Stegastes diencaeus - Longfin damselfish
- Stegastes planifrons - Threespot damselfish
- Stegastes flavilatus - Beaubrummel damselfish
- Stegastes leucorus - White-tailed Damselfish
Other species in the family Pomacentridae
- Chromis chromis - Mediterranean damselfish
- Amphiprion bicinctus - Two-band anemonefish
- Amphiprion ocellaris - False clownfish
- Chromis cyanea - Blue chromis
- Amphiprion akallopisos - Skunk clownfish
- Chromis limbata - Azores chromis
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 276658)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2398815)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia