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Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) — Pomacentridae

Threespot damsel

Pomacentrus tripunctatus
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern

The Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
0.0–3.0 m
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific from Sri Lanka to Vanuatu; shallow, turbid bays and silty coastal reefs.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) is a damselfish of the Indo-West Pacific, from Sri Lanka and the Andaman Sea through the Indo-Australian archipelago to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. It grows to about 8 centimetres and lives reef-associated in very shallow water (0-3 metres), in turbid bays, silty coastal reefs and harbours with sparse coral and algal growth. The short, disc-shaped body is brownish. This diurnal fish feeds mainly on benthic algae. In spawning a distinct pair forms and the male guards the adhesive eggs on the bottom. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Threespot damsel?

The Threespot damsel has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Small damselfish of very shallow, turbid coastal reefs and harbours.

Where does the Threespot damsel live?

The Threespot damsel lives in brackish water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific from Sri Lanka to Vanuatu; shallow, turbid bays and silty coastal reefs.

How big does the Threespot damsel get?

The Threespot damsel grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Threespot damsel dangerous to humans?

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

Is the Threespot damsel edible?

The Threespot damsel is rarely eaten.

More photos

Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) — Pomacentridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Hamid Badar Osmany (CC BY 3.0)
Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) — Pomacentridae — 3
tightontanago (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF — iNaturalist
Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) — Pomacentridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Warren R. Francis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Threespot damsel (Pomacentrus tripunctatus) — Pomacentridae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Sönke Bonde (CC0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Threespot damsel sourced
Scientific name
Pomacentrus tripunctatus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Damselfish; Threespot damsel; Three-spot damsel; Damsel; Three-spot damsel-fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked sourced
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous verified
Dorsal spines
Yes verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
3.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific from Sri Lanka to Vanuatu; shallow, turbid bays and silty coastal reefs. verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Mainly benthic algae. sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal verified
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Reef fish that forms permanent pairs; the male guards the sticky eggs deposited on the bottom. sourced
Special features
Small damselfish of very shallow, turbid coastal reefs and harbours. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely 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 sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. verified

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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