Longfin damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Stegastes diencaeus
- Common name
- Longfin damselfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Genus
- Stegastes
- Size
- 8–13 cm
- Depth
- 1–15 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, territorial
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Stegastes diencaeus reaches 13 cm. Adults uniform olive-brown with a paler tail, often with yellow reflections on flanks. Spectacular juveniles: front half vivid yellow, rear half purple with a yellow blue-edged ocellus on the dorsal fin. Territorial, also farms an algal garden like S. adustus. Lives on Caribbean coral reefs from 1 to 15 m. Sometimes charges passing divers.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Longfin damselfish?
- Longfin damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) reaches 8–13 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Longfin damselfish?
- Longfin damselfish is found between 1–15 m deep.
- Is the Longfin damselfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Longfin damselfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Longfin damselfish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Stegastes
- Stegastes partitus - Bicolor damselfish
- Stegastes adustus - Dusky damselfish
- Stegastes planifrons - Threespot damselfish
- Stegastes acapulcoensis - Acapulco 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 276666)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2398786)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia