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Damselfish (Pomacentrus philippinus) — Pomacentridae

Damselfish

Pomacentrus philippinus
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Damselfish (Pomacentrus philippinus) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–20.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific; lagoon and seaward reefs.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The Philippine damselfish is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the western Pacific. The species has a dark, blue-black body with bright-yellow dorsal and anal fin tips and a yellow tail. Adults live on lagoon, channel and seaward reefs from a few to over twelve metres depth. It feeds on zooplankton from the water column and on algae. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Damselfish?

The Damselfish has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern. Blue-black with bright yellow fin tips and a yellow tail; plankton-eating reef bass.

Where does the Damselfish live?

The Damselfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific; lagoon and seaward reefs.

How big does the Damselfish get?

The Damselfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Damselfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Damselfish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Damselfish edible?

The Damselfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Damselfish (Pomacentrus philippinus) — Pomacentridae — 2
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Damselfish (Pomacentrus philippinus) — Pomacentridae — 3
Williams, Jeffrey T. (CC0 1.0) via GBIF — USNM
Damselfish (Pomacentrus philippinus) — Pomacentridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) 呂一起(Lyu yi-chi), some rights reserved (CC BY))
Damselfish (Pomacentrus philippinus) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) 呂一起(Lyu yi-chi), some rights reserved (CC BY))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Damselfish verified
Scientific name
Pomacentrus philippinus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Philippine damsel; Philippines damselfish; Red-top damsel verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific; lagoon and seaward reefs. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton from the water column and algae sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Blue-black with bright yellow fin tips and a yellow tail; plankton-eating reef bass. 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
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Pomacentrus

More from the family Pomacentridae

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