Animal Species:Alexander's Damsel, Pomacentrus alexanderae (Evermann & Searle, 1907)

Alexander's Damsel is small, light grey fish that lives in lagoons and on both inshore and offshore coral reefs.

Alexander's Damsels at Redang Island

Alexander's Damsels at Redang Island
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Identification

Alexander's Damsel is light grey with a black pectoral fin base. It looks similar to a number of other damselfish species but can be distinguished by a combination of characteristics that include body dimensions, counts of fin rays, scales and gill rakers.

Size range

The species grows to 11 cm in length.

Distribution

Alexander's Damsel occurs in tropical marine waters of the Eastern Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. In Australia it is known from north-western Western Australia.

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.

Pomacentrus alexanderae

Distribution by bioregion

Marine Bioregions: Northwest Shelf Province

What does this mean?

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Alexander's Damsel specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is usually seen at depths between 5 m and 30 m in lagoons and on both inshore and offshore coral reefs.

Habitat type

Marine Habitat: coral reef

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
alexanderae
Genus:
Pomacentrus
Family:
Pomacentridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
  2. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  3. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1992. Tropical Reef-Fishes of the Western Pacific. Indonesia and adjacent Waters. Penerbit PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama. Pp. 314.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Alexander's Damsel, Pomacentrus alexanderae, Pomacentridae, grey, blue, green, white, round, 10 cm - 30 cm, countershaded, coral reef, marine, adult,