WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Black Damsel

Neoglyphidodon melas

Also known as: Black Damselfish, Blue-and-Gold Damselfish, Bluefin Damsel, Bowtie Damselfish, Royal Damsel, Zulu Damsel

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2022
Adult
@fishx6 · Oyster Stacks, Ningaloo Reef, Exmouth, WA, Australia · March 20131 / 6

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found singly, or in pairs, close to soft corals, over shallow lagoons, and fringing reefs, rich in coral growth.

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

COLOURS
Behaviour
pairssolitary

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03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 4
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in pairs, close to soft corals, over shallow lagoons, and fringing reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 6

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. genusNeoglyphidodon
    7. speciesNeoglyphidodon melas (Cuvier, 1830)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)