How big is the Dusky damselfish?

Dusky damselfish (Stegastes adustus) reaches 8–15 cm in length.

At what depth can you find the Dusky damselfish?

Dusky damselfish is found between 1–5 m deep.

What is the conservation status of the Dusky damselfish?

IUCN status: Least concern (LC).

Where can you find the Dusky damselfish?

Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.

Dusky damselfish (Stegastes adustus)

Key facts

Scientific name: Stegastes adustus
Common name: Dusky damselfish
Category: Fish
Family: Pomacentridae
Genus: Stegastes
Size: 8–15 cm
Depth: 1–5 m
IUCN status: Least concern (LC)
Danger level: Harmless
Habitats: reef, rocky
Behaviours: solitary, territorial, aggressive
Ocean zones: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific

Description

Stegastes adustus reaches 15 cm. Oval uniform dark-brown body, juveniles with a blue ocellus on the dorsal. Extremely territorial: actively farms an algal garden on a coral or rock patch and defends it aggressively against all intruders, sometimes charging divers. Prefers shallow Caribbean reefs and rocks down to 5 m. Significant ecological role: protecting its algae delays coral recolonization.

Photo of Dusky damselfish

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Dusky damselfish?: Dusky damselfish (Stegastes adustus) reaches 8–15 cm in length.
At what depth can you find the Dusky damselfish?: Dusky damselfish is found between 1–5 m deep.
Is the Dusky damselfish dangerous to divers?: Danger level: Harmless.
What is the conservation status of the Dusky damselfish?: IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
Where can you find the Dusky damselfish?: Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.

Other species in the genus Stegastes

Other species in the family Pomacentridae

Sources

Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 276659)
Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2398897)
Conservation: IUCN Red List
Encyclopedia: Wikipedia