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Threespot damselfish (Stegastes planifrons) — Pomacentridae

Threespot damselfish

Stegastes planifrons
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Threespot damselfish (Stegastes planifrons) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The threespot damselfish is a damselfish (family Pomacentridae) of the western Atlantic and Caribbean. The species reaches about 13 cm; adults are yellow-brown, juveniles bright yellow, with three dark spots on the caudal peduncle, the dorsal-fin base and the upper gill cover. It inhabits inshore and offshore coral reefs and often stays in staghorn coral or where algae are abundant; at night it shelters in crevices. The species is strongly territorial and farms and defends a patch of algae on the reef, on which it mainly feeds. It is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Threespot damselfish?

The Threespot damselfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Threespot damselfish live?

The Threespot damselfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Threespot damselfish get?

The Threespot damselfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Threespot damselfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Threespot damselfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Threespot damselfish edible?

The Threespot damselfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Driestip-juffertje sourced
English name
Threespot damselfish verified
Scientific name
Stegastes planifrons
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Threespot damselfish; Threespot Damselfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
13.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin 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)
30.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
Yes inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Stegastes

More from the family Pomacentridae

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