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Ocellate damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) — Pomacentridae

Ocellate damselfish

Pomacentrus vaiuli
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Ocellate damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–45.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific and the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean; lagoon and seaward reefs.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The princess damselfish is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species has a bluish body with fine light-blue spots and lines, an orange-yellow rear half and an eyespot on the dorsal fin; several colour forms exist. Adults live on mixed coral and rock bottoms of lagoon and seaward reefs. It feeds on algae, small zooplankton and small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Ocellate damselfish?

The Ocellate damselfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a spots pattern. Blue with light blue spots, a yellow rear half of the body and an eyespot on the dorsal fin; several colour forms.

Where does the Ocellate damselfish live?

The Ocellate damselfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific and the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean; lagoon and seaward reefs.

How big does the Ocellate damselfish get?

The Ocellate damselfish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Ocellate damselfish dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Ocellate damselfish edible?

The Ocellate damselfish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Ocellate damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) — Pomacentridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Diego Delso (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ocellate damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) — Pomacentridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Julie Bedford, NOAA PA (Public domain)
Ocellate damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) — Pomacentridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Francois Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Ocellate damselfish (Pomacentrus vaiuli) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) John Sear, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Ocellate damselfish verified
Scientific name
Pomacentrus vaiuli
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Princess damsel; Princess damselfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Spots 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)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
45.0 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific and the eastern edge of the Indian Ocean; lagoon and seaward reefs. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, small zooplankton and small invertebrates 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 with light blue spots, a yellow rear half of the body and an eyespot on the dorsal fin; several colour forms. 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

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