Home · Pomacentridae · Behn's damsel
Behn's damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) — Pomacentridae

Behn's damsel

Neoglyphidodon nigroris
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Behn's damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–23.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Behn's damsel?

Get the app

Description

The black-and-gold chromis is a reef fish from the Indo-West Pacific, ranging from the Andaman Sea to the Philippines, New Guinea and northern Australia. The species grows to about 13 cm. Juveniles are bright yellow with two black longitudinal stripes, while adults become mostly dark brown. It lives on coral-rich lagoon and seaward reefs between 2 and 23 metres depth and feeds on algae, small crustaceans and drifting tunicates. The eggs are laid on the substrate and guarded and aerated by the male. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Behn's damsel?

The Behn's damsel has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a horizontal stripes pattern. Strong colour difference between juvenile (yellow-black) and adult (dark); the male guards the eggs

Where does the Behn's damsel live?

The Behn's damsel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Behn's damsel get?

The Behn's damsel grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Behn's damsel dangerous to humans?

No, the Behn's damsel is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Behn's damsel edible?

The Behn's damsel is not usually eaten.

More photos

Behn's damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) — Pomacentridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — LCDR Eric Johnson, NOAA Corps. (Public domain)
Behn's damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) juju98, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Behn's damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) — Pomacentridae — 4
momaz (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Behn's damsel (Neoglyphidodon nigroris) — Pomacentridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Chaloklum Diving (CC BY 3.0)
Fin

Want the complete picture on the Behn's damsel?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Behn's damsel is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Behn's damsel verified
Scientific name
Neoglyphidodon nigroris
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Behn's damsel; Behn's damselfish; Black and yellow damsel; Yellowfin damsel; Black-and-gold chromis; Scarface damsel; Scar-face damsel-fish; Yellow honey chromis verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Horizontal stripes sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
23.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, small crustaceans and small tunicates inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Resident fish on coral reefs; the male guards the clutch. sourced
Special features
Strong colour difference between juvenile (yellow-black) and adult (dark); the male guards the eggs sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Neoglyphidodon

More from the family Pomacentridae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Behn's damsel?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Behn's damsel is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Behn's damsel? Get the app