Staghorn Damsel, Amblyglyphidodon curacao (Bloch, 1787)
Click to enlarge image
© Erik Schlögl
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Amblyglyphidodon
- Species
- curacao
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 13 cm
Introduction
The Staghorn Damsel is a tropical, marine species that has broad dark bars on a silvery green body. This fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.
Identification
The Staghorn Damsel has three or four broad dark bars on a silvery green body. The caudal fin has a black margin.
Habitat
The Staghorn Damsel inhabits coral reefs and protected lagoons in depths from 1 m to 40 m.
Juvenile Staghorn Damsels are commonly seen in and around soft corals such as Sarcophyton spp and Sinularia spp.
Distribution
This fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific, from the Philippine Islands north to China and Japan, throughout Micronesia, south to Australia and east to Fiji.
In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Feeding and diet
Adult Staghorn Damsels are commonly seen in large aggregations feeding on zooplankton a few metres above Staghorn coral Acropora spp.
References
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
- Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications. Pp. 237.
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
- Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
