Immaculate Damsel, Mecaenichthys immaculatus (Ogilby, 1885)

Scientific name: Mecaenichthys immaculatus
Alternative name/s:
Green Puller
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther
  • Updated
    26/03/21
  • Read time
    2 minutes
An Immaculate Damsel at Bass Point Click to enlarge image
An Immaculate Damsel at a depth of 12 m, Bass Point, Shellharbour, New South Wales, January 2006. Image: Sascha Schulz
© Sascha Schulz

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Mecaenichthys
    Species
    immaculatus
    Family
    Pomacentridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 15 cm in length.

The Immaculate Damsel has a pointed head and large eyes. The species is only known from Australian waters.

Identification

The Immaculate Damsel has a pointed head and large eyes. The soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin is taller, with a shorter base than the preceding spinous portion. It is silvery-grey above. The median fins have blue margins. Juveniles look very different to adults. They are orange and blue, resembling juveniles of the genus Parma.

Distribution

The Immaculate Damsel is endemic to Australia. It is known from marine waters of southern Queensland to southern New South Wales.

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. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.