Damselfish – Citizens of the Reef

Damselfishes make up the family of Pomacentridae.  They are among the most abundant fishes on tropical reefs and are often very brightly coloured.  Some species live in large schools in the water column, while others are highly territorial and aggressively guard a patch on the reef.  There are close to 400 species of damselfishes globally, with roughly 100 of these species found in the Kimberley region, where they are found in almost all major habitats.  There are different conservation risks and statuses for each species of damselfish, however, climate change and habitat destruction remain a common threat for all marine life.

 

Researcher Note: 

Curator of Fishes, Glenn Moore, collected a pale blue damselfish at Robroy Reefs in 2012.  This was the first sighting of a Muddy Damsel since 2 specimens were collected in 1991.