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False-eye sergeant (Abudefduf sparoides) — Pomacentridae

False-eye sergeant

Abudefduf sparoides
Family: Pomacentridae

The False-eye sergeant (Abudefduf sparoides) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–6.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Africa: Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Reunion I., Seychelles and others

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Description

The false-eye sergeant is a reef fish (Pomacentridae) from the western Indian Ocean, off East Africa and Madagascar. The species grows to about 16 cm and has a deep, greyish body with a few dark vertical bands and a dark spot at the upper edge of the pectoral fin. As a reef-dweller it lives above shallow coral and rocky reefs and eats zooplankton, algae and small invertebrates. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the False-eye sergeant?

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

Where does the False-eye sergeant live?

The False-eye sergeant lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Africa: Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Reunion I., Seychelles and others

How big does the False-eye sergeant get?

The False-eye sergeant grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the False-eye sergeant dangerous to humans?

No, the False-eye sergeant 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

False-eye sergeant (Abudefduf sparoides) — Pomacentridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Ewout Knoester (CC BY-SA 4.0)
False-eye sergeant (Abudefduf sparoides) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jacek Pietruszewski, some rights reserved (CC BY))
False-eye sergeant (Abudefduf sparoides) — Pomacentridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Ewout Knoester (CC BY-SA 4.0)
False-eye sergeant (Abudefduf sparoides) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
False-eye sergeant sourced
Scientific name
Abudefduf sparoides
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
False-eye sergeant; False-eye damsel 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)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
6.0 verified
Natural range
Africa: Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Reunion I., Seychelles and others 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
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. 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 Abudefduf

More from the family Pomacentridae

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