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Yellowtail dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) — Pomacentridae

Yellowtail dascyllus

Dascyllus flavicaudus
Family: Pomacentridae

The Yellowtail dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) is a saltwater fish of the family Pomacentridae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–40.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Cook Is., Tuamotu Is., French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn
Edibility
Commonly eaten

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Description

The Yellowtail dascyllus is a damselfish (Pomacentridae) from the southeast Pacific, around the Society Islands. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a deep, disc-shaped body. The grey-black body continues into a yellow tail. As a reef-dweller it lives in groups around coral heads, where it shelters among the branches when threatened, and eats zooplankton and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Yellowtail dascyllus?

The Yellowtail dascyllus has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly black.

Where does the Yellowtail dascyllus live?

The Yellowtail dascyllus lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Cook Is., Tuamotu Is., French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn

How big does the Yellowtail dascyllus get?

The Yellowtail dascyllus grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Yellowtail dascyllus dangerous to humans?

No, the Yellowtail dascyllus 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 Yellowtail dascyllus edible?

Yes, the Yellowtail dascyllus is commonly eaten.

More photos

Yellowtail dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) — Pomacentridae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — (c) Debra Baker, some rights reserved (CC BY) (CC BY 4.0)
Yellowtail dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) — Pomacentridae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — (c) natomik, some rights reserved (CC BY) (CC BY 4.0)
Yellowtail dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) — Pomacentridae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Jack Crosbie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Yellowtail dascyllus (Dascyllus flavicaudus) — Pomacentridae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Enot Poluskuns, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Yellowtail dascyllus sourced
Scientific name
Dascyllus flavicaudus
Family
Pomacentridae
Other names
Yellowtail dascyllus; Yellow-tailed dascyllus; Black damselfish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
40.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Cook Is., Tuamotu Is., French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Pitcairn sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Invertebrates, algae and detritus inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes 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

Edibility
Commonly 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 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 Dascyllus

More from the family Pomacentridae

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