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Hawaiian dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) — Pomacentridae

Hawaiian dascyllus

Dascyllus albisella
Family: Pomacentridae

The Hawaiian dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–50.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Johnston I., Hawaii
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Hawaiian dascyllus is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the central Pacific, around Hawaii. The species grows to about 13 cm and has a deep, disc-shaped body. Juveniles are black with a large white spot on the flank; adults become drabber. As a reef-dweller it lives in groups around coral heads, where it shelters among the branches when threatened, and eats zooplankton and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Hawaiian dascyllus?

The Hawaiian dascyllus has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly black.

Where does the Hawaiian dascyllus live?

The Hawaiian dascyllus lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Johnston I., Hawaii

How big does the Hawaiian dascyllus get?

The Hawaiian dascyllus grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Hawaiian dascyllus dangerous to humans?

No, the Hawaiian dascyllus 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 Hawaiian dascyllus edible?

Yes, the Hawaiian dascyllus is commonly eaten.

More photos

Hawaiian dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) — Pomacentridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Michael Verdirame, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hawaiian dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jacob, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Hawaiian dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) — Pomacentridae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Danbirchall at English Wikipedia (CC BY 3.0)
Hawaiian dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) — Pomacentridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Jen Wakefield-Dillier from USA (CC BY 2.0)
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Hawaiian dascyllus sourced
Scientific name
Dascyllus albisella
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Hawaiian dascyllus; Domino damsel; Hawaiian domino; Hawaiian domino damselfish; Hawaiian threespot damsel; Hawaiin dascyllus; Onespot damselfish; Threespot damsel verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Black sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Johnston I., Hawaii sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
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

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
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 Dascyllus

More from the family Pomacentridae

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