WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Scissortail Sergeant

Abudefduf sexfasciatus

Also known as: Scissortail Sergeant Major, Sergeant, Sergeant Major, Six-banded Sergeant Major, Six-barred Sergeant Major, Striptail Damselfish, Stripe-tailed Damselfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2017
Adult
@kemalkestelli · Sheraton Beach Club, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia · May 20121 / 39
01

Overview

Found in schools, close to tall soft corals and hydroid colonies, over shallow, reef crests and flats, of fringing inshore and offshore rocky reefs, rich in coral growth.
They are often found feeding high in the water column, on algae and zooplankton.

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
Fins & Tail
tail stripes

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Exact location · 8
  • Country only · 31
LIVES IN

Found in schools, close to tall soft corals and hydroid colonies, over shallow, reef crests and flats, of fringing inshore and offshore rocky reefs, rich in coral growth.

04

Adult photos 39

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 sexfasciatus (Lacepède, 1801)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)