Threespot Damsel, Pomacentrus tripunctatus Cuvier, 1830

Scientific name: Pomacentrus tripunctatus
Alternative name/s:
Three-spot Damsel, Three-spot Damsel-fish
Threespot Damsel, <i>Pomacentrus tripunctatus</i> Click to enlarge image
An adult Threespot Damsel, Pomacentrus tripunctatus, at a depth of 5m, Tulamben, Bali, 22 September 2012. Image: Ian Shaw
© Ian Shaw

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Pomacentrus
    Species
    tripunctatus
    Family
    Pomacentridae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    10 cm

Introduction

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

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.

Juvenile Threespot Damsel
A small juvenile Threespot Damsel at Bowen, Queensland, 12 May 2012. Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio

Habitat

It occurs in shallow waters associated with coral reefs.

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.

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.