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.
Photo of Acapulco damselfish
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