Animal Species:Threespot Damsel, Pomacentrus tripunctatus Cuvier, 1830

The Threespot Damsel is a small tropical species that occurs in shallow coral reef waters.

Threespot Damsel at Tulamben

Threespot Damsel at Tulamben
Ian Shaw © Ian Shaw

Alternative Name/s

Three-spot Damsel, Three-spot Damsel-fish

Identification

Adults are brownish with darker scale margins.  They have a large dark spot on the upper caudal peduncle.  Juveniles are lighter in colour and have a large, blue-margined black spot on the dorsal fin.

Size range

10 cm

Distribution

The species occurs in the Indo-west Pacific.  In Australia it is known from the Northern Territory and Queensland.

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 tripunctatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Threespot Damsel specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs in shallow waters associated with coral reefs.

Classification

Species:
tripunctatus
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. 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.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Threespot Damsel, Pomacentrus tripunctatus, Pomacentridae, normal fish, blue, grey, spot, caudal peduncle, marine, coral, < 10 cm,