WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Bengal Sergeant

Abudefduf bengalensis

Also known as: Bengal Sergeant Major, Bengalese Damselfish, Bengal's Sergeant, Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major, Palmer's Damselfish, Sergeant, Sergeant-Major

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2017
Adult
@fishx6 · Blow Holes, Carnarvon, WA, Australia · June 20131 / 29
01

Overview

Found singly or in small schools, over rocky bottoms of shallow lagoons and coastal reefs.

This is the only member of Abudefduf genus with rounded tail fins.

Damselfish are egg layers.
First they clear a site ready for a nest, then engage in a mating dance with rapid swimming and fin movements, during this time the males will often turn a shade or two darker and may display white blotches. Spawning occurs at dawn.

02

How to identify

Pattern
stripes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Eastern Indian Ocean, Western Pacific
  • Exact location · 10
  • Country only · 19
LIVES IN

Found singly or in small schools, over rocky bottoms of shallow lagoons and coastal reefs.

04

Adult photos 29

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderOvalentaria incertae sedis
    5. familyPomacentridae
    6. genusAbudefduf
    7. speciesAbudefduf bengalensis (Bloch, 1787)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)