Threespot Damsel, Pomacentrus tripunctatus Cuvier, 1830
Scientific name: Pomacentrus tripunctatus
Alternative name/s:
Three-spot Damsel, Three-spot Damsel-fish
Three-spot Damsel, Three-spot Damsel-fish
Click to enlarge image
An adult Threespot Damsel, Pomacentrus tripunctatus, at a depth of 5m, Tulamben, Bali, 22 September 2012.
Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Pomacentrus
- Species
- tripunctatus
- Family
- Pomacentridae
- Order
- Perciformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- 10 cm
Introduction
The Threespot Damsel is a small tropical species that occurs in shallow coral reef waters.
Identification
Adults are brownish with darker scale margins. They have a large dark spot on the upper caudal peduncle. Juveniles are lighter in colour and have a large, blue-margined black spot on the dorsal fin.
A small juvenile Threespot Damsel at Bowen, Queensland, 12 May 2012.
Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio
Habitat
It occurs in shallow waters associated with coral reefs.
Distribution
The species occurs in the Indo-west Pacific. In Australia it is known from the Northern Territory and 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. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
- Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
