Dischistodus melanotus

Blackvent Damsel
Dischistodus melanotus
Dischistodus melanotus, adult, Great Barrier Reef, Cairns, Qld, Photo: Andrew Green
Dischistodus melanotus
Dischistodus melanotus, juvenile, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
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Dischistodus melanotus
Dischistodus melanotus

Distribution

Tropical Indo-Pacific


Description

White with dark upper head and forward portion of back. Adults also with dark patch around anus, and juveniles have white bar behind head and an ocellus in the middle of the back.


Information

Max Size: 16 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 23.5-31.2°C

Depth: 1-12m

Habitat Generalization Index: 9.49

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Frequent (19.1% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Several (6 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.