Scientific Name: Pomacentrus microspilus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 8.5cm
Identification: Charcoal gray with blackish anal fin and whitish 'eyebrow'; diamond-shaped dark marking on pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Lagoons and offshore reefs with silty conditions in 1-35m.
Location: Fiji.
Fiji Damsel
Labels: Damsel
Reticulated Butterflyfish
Scientific Name: Chaetodon reticulatus
Family: Butterflyfish - Chaetodontidae
Maximum Size: 16cm
Description: Black with pale gray scale centers becoming whitish on back and forebody; yellow-edged black eye bar, margin of tail yellow with black-edges.
Favourite: Solitary, in pairs or aggregations.
Hide-out: Exposed outer reefs to 30m.
Location: Pacific - N. Sulawesi in Indonesia, Philippines, Micronesia to Hawaii and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to N.E. Australia.
Labels: Butterflyfish
Whitebar Gregory
Scientific Name: Stegastes albifasciatus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 11cm
Identification: Dark gray to brown; often white bar across rear body, large blackand white spot on rear base of dorsal fin, black spot on base of pectoral fin.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Rubble and boulder areas expposed to wave action to 2m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Micronesia, Line Is. and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia and New Caledonia.
Labels: Gregory
Komodo Damsel
Scientific Name: Pomacentrus komodoensis
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 8cm
Identification: Brown with darker scale margins; blue iris with thin inner yellow ring. Juvenile - Reddish tinge on back and blue-edged black spot on dorsal fin.
Favourite: Solitary or form groups.
Hide-out: Rock or boulder-strewn shorelines to 5m.
Location: Known only from Komodo I., Indonesia.
Labels: Damsel
Mimic Surgeonfish
Scientific Name: Acanthurus pyroferus
Family: Surgeonfishes - Acanthuridae
Maximum Size: 25cm
Identification: Brown; curving black band from chin to upper edge of gill cover; orange patch above pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Usually solitary.
Hide-out: Lagoon and seaward reefs in 4-60m.
Location: Pacific - Indonesia, Philippines, Micronesia to French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
Labels: Surgeonfish
Bluntsnout Gregory
Scientific Name: Stegastes lividus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: Brown; large black blotch on base of rear dorsal fin and adjacent back (pale-edged black spot in Indian Ocean).
Favourite: Form groups; 'farm' algae; aggressive toward intruders.
Hide-out: Shelter in dead staghorn corals to 5m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Line Is. and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia, New Caledonia and Tonga.
Labels: Gregory
Princess Damsel
Scientific Name: Pomacentrus vaiuli
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: Blue with yellow-orange area on upper head and back; blue lines extends from snout onto back and dorsal fin, ocellated spot rear dorsal fin, black 'ear' spot.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose aggregations.
Hide-out: Lagoons and outer reef slopes in 3-45m.
Location: West Pacific - Bali in Indonesia to Micronesia and Samoa. S.W. Japan to Australia.
Labels: Damsel
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Scientific Name: Chaetodon lunula
Family: Butterflyfish - Chaetodontidae
Maximum Size: 21cm
Description: Yellow-orange, with dusky back and thin dark diagonal bands; black eye band with white patch behind, connected to wide black band running to dorsal fin.
Favourite: Solitary, in pairs or aggregations.
Hide-out: Lagoons and outer reefs to 30m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - E. Africa to Indonesia, Micronesia, Hawaii and Galapagos. S.W. Japan to N.W. & E. Australia.
Labels: Butterflyfish
Coral Sea Gregory
Scientific Name: Stegastes gascoynei
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 15cm
Identification: Brown; dark scale edges form vertical lines on side, yellow lower body and fins, golden iris; small black spot on upper pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Solitary or form loose groups.
Hide-out: Coral and rocky reefs in 2-30m.
Location: Southwestern Pacific - Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea to N. New Zealand.
Labels: Gregory
Obscure Damsel
Scientific Name: Pomacentrus adelus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 8.5cm
Identification: Gray-brown; golden iris, ocellated spot on rear of dorsal fin (sometimes absent), dark 'ear' spot. Juvenile - Gray-blue with blue lines on forehead and spot at rear of dorsal fin.
Hide-out: Inshore and outer reefs to 8m.
Location: East Indo-Asian Pacific - Andaman Sea to Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, north to Philippines.
Labels: Damsel
Magnificent Rabbitfish
Scientific Name: Siganus magnificus
Family: Rabbitfishes - Siganidae
Maximum Size: 23cm
Identification: White head, blackish upper body becomes pale below, yellow pectoral, anal and tail fins; black band from protruding snout to dorsal fin.
Favourite: In pairs.
Hide-out: Coral-rich areas in 2-20m.
Location: East Indian Ocean - Andaman Sea at Similan Is. and W. Thailand.
Labels: Rabbitfish
Dusky Gregory
Scientific Name: Stegastes nigricans
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 14cm
Identification: Variable from light brown or gray to nearly black; dark spot at base of rear dorsal fin, purplish streak below eye.
Favourite: Form groups; 'farm' algae; aggressive toward intruders.
Hide-out: Shelter in branching corals to 10m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Line Is. and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to Australia, New Caledonia and Tonga.
Labels: Gregory
Gulf Damsel
Scientific Name: Pristotis obtusirostris
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 10cm
Identification: Light gray to whitish undercolor with blue spot on each scale, occasionally a yellowish to greenish wash on upper head and back.
Favourite: Form groups.
Hide-out: Flat sand or rubble bottoms around coral or rock outcroppings in 5-80m.
Location: Indo-Asian Pacific - Arabian Gulf to S.W. Japan and E. Australia, mainly continental margins.
Labels: Damsel
Oval-Spot Butterflyfish
Scientific Name: Chaetodon speculum
Family: Butterflyfish - Chaetodontidae
Maximum Size: 18cm
Description: Bright yellow; large black oval-shaped spot on middle of back.
Favourite: Usually solitary or in pairs; shy.
Hide-out: Coral-rich reefs in lagoons and on outer reefs in 8-30m.
Location: West Pacific - Indonesia, Malaysian Peninsula, Philippines, New Guinea to Tonga. S.W. Japan to N.W. & E. Australia.
Labels: Butterflyfish
Springer's Demoiselle
Scientific Name: Chrysiptera springeri
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 6cm
Identification: Brilliant blue occasionally intermixed with black speckling.
Favourite: Form small groups.
Hide-out: Shelter within branching corals of protected reefs and lagoons in 5-30m.
Location: Komodo I. to Sulawesi and Irian Jaya in Indonesia and Philippines.
Labels: Demoiselle
Indian Mimic Surgeonfish
Scientific Name: Acanthurus tristis
Family: Surgeonfishes - Acanthuridae
Maximum Size: 25cm
Identification: Gray face and tan to dark brown body; curving black band from chin to upper gill cover, black patch above pectoral fin base, white margin on tail.
Favourite: Usually solitary.
Hide-out: Lagoon and outer reefs in 2-30m.
Location: Indian Ocean - Seychelles, Chagos, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Andaman Sea to Bali in Indonesia.
Labels: Surgeonfish
Chinese Demoiselle
Scientific Name: Neopomacentrus bankieri
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 7cm
Identification: Gray with yellow rear dorsal and tail fins; small black spot on upper pectoral fin base.
Favourite: Form schools.
Hide-out: Coral and rock outcroppings or debris on sand and silt bottoms in 3-12m.
Location: Asian Pacific - South China, Java Seas and Great Barrier Reef.
Labels: Demoiselle
Ornate Butterflyfish
Scientific Name: Chaetodon omatissimus
Family: Butterflyfish - Chaetodontidae
Maximum Size: 18cm
Description: Bluish white with orange bands; narrow yellow margin on dorsal and anal fins, yellow-edged black eye bar.
Favourite: Usually in pairs.
Hide-out: Coral-rich areas in clear water lagoons and seaward reefs to 36m.
Location: Indo-Pacific - Maldives to Indonesia, Philippines, Micronesia and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to N.W. & N.E. Australia.
Labels: Butterflyfish
Brown Demoiselle
Scientific Name: Neopomacentrus filamentosus
Family: Damselfishes - Pomacentridae
Maximum Size: 8cm
Identification: Gray-brown, rear dorsal and tail fins abruptly clear; narrow blue margin on most fins.
Hide-out: Soft bottoms of lagoons and inshore reefs also around coral and rock outcroppings or wreckage in 5-12m.
Location: East Indo-Asian Pacific - Andaman Sea to N. Australia and Coral Sea, north to Philippines.
Labels: Demoiselle
Emperor Angelfish
Scientific Name: Pomacanthus imperator
Family: Angelfish - Pomacanthidae
Maximum Size: 38cm
Identification: Vivid alternating blue and yellow stripes and yellow tail; blue-edged black eye mask, broad blue-edged black bar behind head.
Favourite: Solitary; make loud drumming sound when alarmed.
Hide-out: Coral reefs in 6-60m.
Location: Indo Pacific - Red Sea and E. Africa to Indonesia, Philippines, Hawaii and French Polynesia. S.W. Japan to N. & E. Australia.
Labels: Angelfish