Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major, Abudefduf bengalensis (Bloch, 1787)

Introduction

The Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major is a small, primarily tropical species that has black bands on the body.

Identification

The Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major is white with six or seven black bands on the body. It has rounded caudal fin lobes.

Habitat

It typically inhabits inshore coral reefs and protected lagoons at depths between 0.5 m and 8 m.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, including Pakistan, India, Indonesia, New Guinea, north to the Philippines, south to Australia and east to Vanuatu.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and down the east coast to central 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. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Feeding and diet

The species feeds on algae, gastropods and small crabs.

Other behaviours and adaptations

The Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major is often seen as solitary individuals or in small groups. Males are territorial.

References

1. Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications. Pp. 237.
2. Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
3. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.