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Yellowspotted chromis (Chromis alpha) — Pomacentridae

Yellowspotted chromis

Chromis alpha
Family: Pomacentridae

The Yellowspotted chromis (Chromis alpha) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
11.0–110.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji and others

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Description

The Yellowspotted chromis is a chromis (Pomacentridae) from reef water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species has an oval, laterally compressed, brown with yellow tints on the back body with a forked tail. As a plankton feeder it hovers in schools above coral and rock slopes and snaps at small zooplankton; when in danger the whole school dives into the coral. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellowspotted chromis?

The Yellowspotted chromis has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Yellowspotted chromis live?

The Yellowspotted chromis lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji and others

How big does the Yellowspotted chromis get?

The Yellowspotted chromis grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Yellowspotted chromis dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellowspotted chromis 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.

More photos

Yellowspotted chromis (Chromis alpha) — Pomacentridae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellowspotted chromis (Chromis alpha) — Pomacentridae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Francois Libert, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellowspotted chromis (Chromis alpha) — Pomacentridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellowspotted chromis (Chromis alpha) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Malcolm Francis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Yellowspotted chromis sourced
Scientific name
Chromis alpha
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Yellow-speckled chromis; Yellowspeckled puller; Yellow-spotted puller; Alpha chromis verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
11.0 verified
Max depth (m)
110.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: American Samoa, Australia, Solomon Is., Christmas I., Cocos Is. (Keel), Fiji and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No 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

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 Chromis

Allen's chromis (Chromis alleni) — Pomacentridae
Allen's chromis
Chromis alleni
Pomacentridae
 Ambon chromis (Chromis amboinensis) — Pomacentridae
Ambon chromis
Chromis amboinensis
Pomacentridae
 Azores chromis (Chromis limbata) — Pomacentridae
Azores chromis
Chromis limbata
Pomacentridae
 Blue chromis (Chromis cyanea) — Pomacentridae
Blue chromis
Chromis cyanea
Pomacentridae
 Blue green chromis (Chromis viridis) — Pomacentridae
Blue green chromis
Chromis viridis
Pomacentridae
 Bluespotted chromis (Chromis dasygenys) — Pomacentridae
Bluespotted chromis
Chromis dasygenys
Pomacentridae

More from the family Pomacentridae

Acapulco damselfish (Stegastes acapulcoensis) — Pomacentridae
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 Alexander's damsel (Pomacentrus alexanderae) — Pomacentridae
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 Allard's anemonefish (Amphiprion allardi) — Pomacentridae
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 Allen's chromis (Chromis alleni) — Pomacentridae
Allen's chromis
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 Andaman damsel (Pomacentrus alleni) — Pomacentridae
Andaman damsel
Pomacentrus alleni
Pomacentridae
 Ambon chromis (Chromis amboinensis) — Pomacentridae
Ambon chromis
Chromis amboinensis
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 Amboina damselfish (Pomacentrus amboinensis) — Pomacentridae
Amboina damselfish
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Pomacentridae
 Arabian damsel (Pomacentrus arabicus) — Pomacentridae
Arabian damsel
Pomacentrus arabicus
Pomacentridae
Fin

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