White Belly Damsel, Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster (Bleeker, 1847)

Introduction

The White Belly Damsel is interesting because its colouration varies according to geographic location. It occurs on tropical coral reefs.

Identification

The colouration of the White Belly Damsel varies according to geographic location. The Pacific variety, which occurs on the Great Barrier Reef, usually has a silvery grey body with dark margins along the dorsal, caudal and anal fins. The pelvic fins are yellow and there is a black spot at the base of the pectoral fin.

Habitat

The White Belly Damsel typically inhabits inshore and offshore coral reef slopes as well as lagoons and reef passages. It is found in coral rich areas at depths of 2 m to 45 m.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters from Africa and the Red Sea across the Indo-West Pacific, including Indonesia and New Guinea, north to the Philippines and Taiwan and as far east as the Marshall Islands and Fiji.

In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and the northern 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. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Feeding and diet

This fish is often seen as solitary individuals or in small aggregations feeding on zooplankton a few meters above the bottom.

References

• Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
• Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications. Pp. 237.
• Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
• Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.