Black-vent Damsel, Dischistodus melanotus (Bleeker, 1853)

Scientific name: Dischistodus melanotus
  • Updated
    25/01/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
A Black-vent Damsel at Redang Click to enlarge image
A Black-vent Damsel at a depth of 12 m, Pulau Kerengga, Redang, Terengganu, Malaysia, April 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Dischistodus
    Species
    melanotus
    Family
    Pomacentridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 16 cm in length.

The Black-vent Damsel is usually a solitary species found on shallow coastal reefs and lagoons.

Identification

The Black-vent Damsel is brown anterodorsally and white below. The upper half of the head is brown and the lower half is flecked with pink blotches and lines. There is a large black patch in front of the anal fin.

Habitat

The species is usually found in lagoons and coastal reefs.

Distribution

The Black-vent Damsel occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.

In Australia it is known from the entire length of the 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.

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. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.