WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Indian Ocean Humbug

Dascyllus abudafur

Also known as: Banded Dascyllus, Banded Humbug, Black-and-White Damselfish, Black-and-White Humbug, Common Humbug, Humbug, Humbug Damsel, Humbug Damselfish, Stripe Damsel, Stripe Damselfish, Threestripe Damsel, Threestripe Damselfish, Three-striped Damsel, Whitetail Damsel, Whitetail Dascyllus, White-tailed Damsel, White-tailed Damselfish, White-tailed Footballer, Zebra Humbug

Adult
@fishx6 · Gangehi, Maldives · March 20081 / 26
01

Overview

Found in small and large schools, sheltering in the arms of staghorn corals, or around isolated coral heads, over shallow lagoons and inshore reef flats.

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
Pattern
bars
Behaviour
schooling

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indian Ocean
  • Exact location · 4
  • Country only · 22
LIVES IN

Found in small and large schools, sheltering in the arms of staghorn corals, or around isolated coral heads, over shallow lagoons and inshore reef flats.

04

Adult photos 26

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. genusDascyllus
    7. speciesDascyllus abudafur (Forsskål, 1775)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)