WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Bluntsnout Gregory

Stegastes punctatus

Also known as: Bluntsnout Damselfish, Bluntsnout Farmerfish, Farmer Damsel, Farmerfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
Handle with careLook, don't touch
Adult
@greatwhite · Fafa, Tonga · September 20111 / 11
01

Overview

Found singly, or in pairs, defending their territory, amongst the branches of dead, staghorn coral patches, over very shallow areas, of coral reefs. Aggressive to other fish, taking "nips" from divers if too close! They emit a clicking sound during aggressive encounters.
Indian Ocean fish have an Ocellated spot.
They feed on filamentous algae from the bases of the dead coral they are defending.

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

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 9
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in pairs, defending their territory, amongst the branches of dead, staghorn coral patches, over very shallow areas, of coral reefs.

04

Adult photos 11

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. genusStegastes
    7. speciesStegastes punctatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)