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Pearly sergeant (Abudefduf margariteus) — Pomacentridae

Pearly sergeant

Abudefduf margariteus
Family: Pomacentridae

The Pearly sergeant (Abudefduf margariteus) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–8.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The pearly sergeant is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from reef water of the western Indian Ocean. The species has a deep, oval, silver-grey body with faint dark crossbars and a pearly sheen. As a territorial fish it swims in loose groups above coral and rocky reefs and eats algae, small zooplankton and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Pearly sergeant?

The Pearly sergeant has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Pearly sergeant live?

The Pearly sergeant lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Pearly sergeant get?

The Pearly sergeant grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Pearly sergeant dangerous to humans?

No, the Pearly sergeant is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Parel-sergeantvis sourced
English name
Pearly sergeant sourced
Scientific name
Abudefduf margariteus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Pearly sergeant verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
8.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Abudefduf

More from the family Pomacentridae

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