ANIMAL SPECIES:Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major, Abudefduf bengalensis (Bloch, 1787)
The Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major is a small, primarily tropical species that has black bands on the body.
Identification
The Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major is white with six or seven black bands on the body. It has rounded caudal fin lobes.
Size range
The species grows to 18 cm in length.Distribution
It occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-West Pacific, including Pakistan, India, Indonesia, New Guinea, north to the Philippines, south to Australia and east to Vanuatu.
In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north and down the east coast to central New South Wales.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
It typically inhabits inshore coral reefs and protected lagoons at depths between 0.5 m and 8 m.
Behaviour and adaptations
Feeding and Diet
The species feeds on algae, gastropods and small crabs.
Other behaviours and adaptations
The Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major is often seen as solitary individuals or in small groups. Males are territorial.
Classification
- Species:
- bengalensis
- Genus:
- Abudefduf
- Family:
- Pomacentridae
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications. Pp. 237.
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
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A Narrow-Banded Sergeant Major at Shiprock View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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