Scissortail Sergeant, Abudefduf sexfasciatus (Lacepède, 1801)

Introduction

The Scissortail Sergeant is white with five black bands on the body. It has a dark longitudinal stripe on both lobes of the caudal fin.

Identification

The Scissortail Sergeant is white with five black bands on the body. It has a dark longitudinal stripe on both lobes of the caudal fin.

Habitat

The Scissortail Sergeant typically inhabits inshore and offshore coral and rocky reefs. It is found in depths of 1 m to 15 m.

Distribution

The Scissortail Sergeant occurs in tropical and temperate marine waters of the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Tuamoto Islands.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and down the east coast to southern New South Wales. It is also known from Lord Howe Island.

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

It feeds on algae and zooplankton.

Other behaviours and adaptations

This fish is often seen in large aggregations well above the bottom.

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.