Animal Species:Banded Humbug, Dascyllus aruanus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Aggregations of Banded Humbugs often seek shelter between the branches of coral.  The species is commonly seen by divers.

Banded Humbugs at Lady Elliot Island

Banded Humbugs at Lady Elliot Island
John Pogonoski © John Pogonoski

Alternative Name/s

Humbug, Humbug Dascyllus, White-tailed Footballer

Identification

The species is distinctively barred in black and white.  The snout and tail are both white,

Size range

It grows to about 8.5 cm in length.

Distribution

Banded Humbugs occur widely throughout the Indo-west and Central Pacific.

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.

Dascyllus aruanus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Banded Humbug specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species lives in coral reef and inshore waters at depths between 1 m and 12 m.

Classification

Species:
aruanus
Genus:
Dascyllus
Family:
Pomacentridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. 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.
  2. Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and Shore Fishes of the South Pacific. University of Hawai'i Press. Pp. 707.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Banded Humbug, Dascyllus aruanus, Pomacentridae, white, black, 'normal fish', < 10 cm, stripes or bands, coral reef, marne, adult, long tail,