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Violet damsel (Neopomacentrus violascens) — Pomacentridae

Violet damsel

Neopomacentrus violascens
Family: Pomacentridae
LC · Least Concern
NativeIntroduced

The Violet damsel (Neopomacentrus violascens) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The violet demoiselle is a small damselfish from the western Pacific and the Indo-Australian Archipelago. The species grows to about 8 cm and has a dark, violet to blue-grey body with a yellow-tinged rear and tail. It forms small groups above coral-rich lagoon and coastal reefs and picks zooplankton from the current. The fish is harmless to humans, occurs in the aquarium trade and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Violet damsel?

The Violet damsel has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly blue and shows a plain pattern. Violet body with a yellow rear body; plankton-picking reef damselfish

Where does the Violet damsel live?

The Violet damsel lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific

How big does the Violet damsel get?

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

Is the Violet damsel dangerous to humans?

No, the Violet damsel 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 Violet damsel edible?

The Violet damsel is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Violet damsel verified
Scientific name
Neopomacentrus violascens
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Violet demoiselle; Yellow-tailed demoiselle verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.5 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Blue inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
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
Natural range
Western Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Zooplankton inferred
Social behaviour
Large groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Plankton-picking reef damselfish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Violet body with a yellow rear body; plankton-picking reef damselfish 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
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 Neopomacentrus

More from the family Pomacentridae

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