Phoenix Damsel

Scientific Name: Plectroglyphidodon phoenixensis
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 9cm
Identification: Brown with white tail; four narrow white to yellowish bars and black bar on tail base; may display pale ocellated spot on rear dorsal fin.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Rocky shores and reef flats exposed to vigorous wave action to 8m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to S.W. Japan to Johnston I, Line Is. and French Polynesia.

Brighteye Damsel

Scientific Name: Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 6cm
Identification: Light blue-gray (nearly white), tail base and tail often yellow, nape and fore-back may be dusky; black bar across middle of eye, iris silvery.
Hide-out: Wave-swept shallows to 3m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Hawaii and Pitcaim Is. east of French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Lagoon Damsel

Scientific Name: Hemiglyphidodon plagiometopon
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 18cm
Identification: Brown; head occasionally pale gradating to dark rear body; no distinctive markings.
Favourite: 'Farm' algae; aggressive toward intruders.
Hide-out: Sheltered shoreline reefs and lagoons often in areas of silting and turbid water to 20m.
Location: East Indo-Asian Pacific - Andaman Sea, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea, Solomon Is. and Great Barrier Reef.

Whiteband Damsel

Scientific Name: Plectroglyphidodon leucozonus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: Brown with white bar across mid-body; rear edge of gill cover often dark, black spot on upper pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Rocky shores and reef flats exposed to wave action to 4m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Micronesia and Pitcaim Is. east of French Polynesia. S.W. Japn to Australia.

Johnston Damsel

Scientific Name: Plectroglyphidodon johnstonianus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 9cm
Identification: Yellowish tan, head often with bluish hue; broad, black bar across rear body.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Often associated with Acropora and Pocillopora branching corals in passages and outer reef slopes in 2-12m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Hawaii and Pitcaim Is., east of french Polynesia. S.W. Japan to E. Australia.

Jewel Damsel

Scientific Name: Plectroglyphidodon lacrymatus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: Brown with black scale margins, often gradating to tan or whitish on rear body and tail; small blue spots scattered on head and body.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Lagoons and outer reefs in 2-12m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Marshall Is. in Micronesia and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to E. Australia.

Blackbar Damsel

Scientific Name: Plectroglyphidodon dickii
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 11cm
Identification: Tan with fine dark scale margins, white rear body and tail, pectoral fins have yellow hue; a narrow black bar across rear body.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Coral-rich areas of lagoons and outer reefs to 12m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Line Is. and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia.

Ocellated Damsel

Scientific Name: Neoglyphidodon bonang
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 13cm
Identification: Dark brown; blue ocellated spot on mid-dorsal fin base and a second below last dorsal rays; large adults sometimes lose these spots.
Hide-out: Among rocks and corals of shoreline reefs, often in turbid conditions to 20m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Sri Lanka and Andaman Sea to Sumatra, Java and Komodo I. in Indonesia.

Multispine Damsel

Scientific Name: Neoglyphidodon polyacanthus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 14cm
Identification: Adult gray-brown with yellowish pectoral fins; sub-adult (pictured) blue with dark scale outlines; yellow belly.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Coral and rocky reefs in 2-30m.
Location: Southwestern Pacific - S. Great Barrier Reef, New Caledonia, Lord Howe and Norfolk Is.

Carlson's Damsel

Scientific Name: Neoglyphidodon carlsoni
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 12cm
Identification: Head and body charcoal gray with black scale outlines. Juveniles - Similar, but with thin blue streak along back.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Near entrances of caves and ledges; difficult to detect among shadows. Fringing reefs and lee side of platform reefs in 1-5m.
Location: Known only from Fiji.

Barhead Damsel

Scientific Name: Neoglyphidodon thoracotaeniatus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: Eastern Variation - Blue-gray; three brown bars on head with white between, dark spot on upper pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Sheltered reef slopes and deeper lagoons in 15-45m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Papua New Guinea and Solomon Is.

Cross's Damsel

Scientific Name: Neoglyphidodon crossi
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 13cm
Identification: Dark chocolate brown; golden iris.
Favourite: Solitary or loose groups.
Hide-out: Rocky shorelines and sheltered coral reefs of bays and lagoons in 2-12m.
Location: Komodo, Flores, Sulawesi, Molucca Is. and W. Irian Jaya in Indonesia.

Javanese Damsel

Scientific Name: Neoglyphidodon oxyodon
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 14cm
Identification: Gray with black scale outlines and blackish fins. Similar Black Damsel has darker coloration.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Sheltered shoreline reefs, lagoons and reef flats to 4m.
Location: Asian Pacific - Indonesia, Philippines and Ashmore Reef (Timor Sea).

Black Damsel

Scientific Name: Neoglyphidodon melas
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: Jet black; no distinctive markings. Similar Javanese Damsel has paler coloration.
Favourite: Solitary.
Hide-out: Shoreline reefs, lagoons and outer slopes, usually in areas with abundant soft corals to 12m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Vanuatu. S.W. Japan to N. Australia.

White-Belly Damsel

Scientific Name: Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 13cm
Identification: Gray with pale scale centers, yellow ventral fins; black edge on dorsal, anal and tail fins.
Hide-out: Lagoons and outer reefs in 2-45m.
Location: Asian Pacific - N. Sumatra in Indonesia to Vanuatu. S.W. Japan to Great Barrier Reef.

Golden Damsel

Scientific Name: Amblyglyphidodon aureus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: Bright yellow to gold including fins; blue markings around eye; long pointed rear dorsal and anal fins.
Favourite: Solitary or in pairs.
Hide-out: Steep outer reef slopes in 12-35m.
Location: East Indo-West Pacific - Andaman Sea to Marshall Is. in Micronesia and Fiji. S.W. Japan to N.W. Australia and New Caledonia.