Microspathodon dorsalis

Pomacentridae
Giant Damselfish, Giant Damselfish
  • Microspathodon dorsalis, Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Photo: Graham Edgar
    Microspathodon dorsalis, Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Photo: Graham Edgar
  • Microspathodon dorsalis, Juvenile. Photo: Graham Edgar
    Microspathodon dorsalis, Juvenile. Photo: Graham Edgar
  • Microspathodon dorsalis, Juvenile, Malpelo Island, Colombia, Photo: Graham Edgar
    Microspathodon dorsalis, Juvenile, Malpelo Island, Colombia, Photo: Graham Edgar
  • Microspathodon dorsalis, Malpelo Island, Colombia, Photo: Graham Edgar
    Microspathodon dorsalis, Malpelo Island, Colombia, Photo: Graham Edgar
Distribution
Tropical Eastern Pacific
Description
Dark blue-green body with a large rounded head and lips, fins mildly filamentous with bright blue margins. Juveniles with blue dashes over body and a curved row of larger blue spots on side. Inhabits reefs, below the surf zone, and aggressively defend it's territory.
Information
  • Max Size: 31 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 22.8-30.4°C
  • Depth: 1-25m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef, Rocky Reef
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 21
    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
Rarity
  • IUCN Threat Status: Least Concern
  • Occurrence: Common (46% 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: Many (10 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: Joe Shields
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