Alexander's Damsels Click to enlarge image
Alexander's Damsels at a depth of 16 m, Redang Island, Malaysia, April 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pomacentrus
    Species
    alexanderae
    Family
    Pomacentridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 11 cm in length.
  • Habitats
    coral reef
  • View Bio Regions
    Bio Regions
    Northwest Shelf Province

Introduction

Alexander's Damsel is small, light grey fish that lives in lagoons and on both inshore and offshore coral reefs.

Identification

Alexander's Damsel is light grey with a black pectoral fin base. It looks similar to a number of other damselfish species but can be distinguished by a combination of characteristics that include body dimensions, counts of fin rays, scales and gill rakers.

Habitat

It is usually seen at depths between 5 m and 30 m in lagoons and on both inshore and offshore coral reefs.

Distribution

Alexander's Damsel occurs in tropical marine waters of the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia.

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.


Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
  2. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  3. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1992. Tropical Reef-Fishes of the Western Pacific. Indonesia and adjacent Waters. Penerbit PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama. Pp. 314.