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Black-banded demoiselle (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) — Pomacentridae

Black-banded demoiselle

Amblypomacentrus breviceps
Family: Pomacentridae

The Black-banded demoiselle (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
2.0–35.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste

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Description

The black-banded demoiselle is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a whitish, laterally compressed body with a few broad black crossbars. As a bottom-oriented reef-dweller it often lives on turbid, silty bottoms near reefs and eats small bottom life and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Black-banded demoiselle?

The Black-banded demoiselle has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly white and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Black-banded demoiselle live?

The Black-banded demoiselle lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste

How big does the Black-banded demoiselle get?

The Black-banded demoiselle grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Black-banded demoiselle dangerous to humans?

No, the Black-banded demoiselle 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.

More photos

Black-banded demoiselle (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) — Pomacentridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Black-banded demoiselle (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jackson Frost, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Black-banded demoiselle (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) — Pomacentridae — 4
Sylvain Le Bris (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Black-banded demoiselle (Amblypomacentrus breviceps) — Pomacentridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY 2.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Black-banded demoiselle sourced
Scientific name
Amblypomacentrus breviceps
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Black-banded damselfish; Black-banded demoiselle; Blackbanded damsel; Short-head damsel; Short-headed damsel; Small-headed demoiselle verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
White 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)
35.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Timor-Leste sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
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 Amblypomacentrus

More from the family Pomacentridae

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