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Blackmargined damsel (Pomacentrus nigromarginatus) — Pomacentridae

Blackmargined damsel

Pomacentrus nigromarginatus
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Blackmargined damsel (Pomacentrus nigromarginatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
8 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–50.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The blackmargined damsel is a small damselfish from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a blue-grey body with a yellow-tinged rear and dark edges along the fins, to which the name refers. It lives on coral-rich lagoon and outer reefs and picks zooplankton and algae from the water. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackmargined damsel?

The Blackmargined damsel has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern. Dark fin margins; plankton-picking damselfish

Where does the Blackmargined damsel live?

The Blackmargined damsel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific

How big does the Blackmargined damsel get?

The Blackmargined damsel grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Blackmargined damsel dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackmargined 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 Blackmargined damsel edible?

The Blackmargined damsel is not usually eaten.

More photos

Blackmargined damsel (Pomacentrus nigromarginatus) — Pomacentridae — 2
Debra Baker (CC BY 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Blackmargined damsel (Pomacentrus nigromarginatus) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Nico K. Michiels, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackmargined damsel (Pomacentrus nigromarginatus) — Pomacentridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY))
Blackmargined damsel (Pomacentrus nigromarginatus) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Blackmargined damsel verified
Scientific name
Pomacentrus nigromarginatus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Black-edged damsel; Blackmargin damsel; Blackmargined damsel; Black-margined damsel; Balck-edged damsel; Black-margined damselfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Plain 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)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton and algae inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Plankton-picking reef damselfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Dark fin margins; plankton-picking damselfish 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 Pomacentrus

More from the family Pomacentridae

Fin

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