Damselfishes: fishes of the family Pomacentridae

Damselfishes are an iconic tropic fish family that frequently live in territorial groups. They are benthic spawners building nests on hard substrates which are easily observed while scuba diving.

Hawaiian Dascyllus courtship
A Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisell) pair courting off Niihau, Hawaii.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Hawaii Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Neopterygii Ni'ihau Island Niihau Niihau Island Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Vertical Awareness dive site biological chordate courtship living organism spawning behavior underwater
Dascyllus at night
Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus absiella) hoover as a group in the water column directly over their preferred coral head habitat which is about one meter in diameter. Photographed at night offshore of Kauaii Island, Hawaii.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Hawaii Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Kauai Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae spring Stone House dive site Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei UPY22 Vertebrate biological chordate fish behavior living night nocturnal organism underwater
Threespot Chromis
A Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and Mackeral Scad (Decapterus macarellus) form a background for ths group of Threespot Chromis (Chromis verater) off Niihau, Hawaii. Photographed while scuba diving using a Nikon D3X camera in a Seacam housing equipped with a Seacam modified Nikonos RS 20-35mm lens and two Retra underwater strobes.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Carangidae Carcharhinidae Carcharhiniformes Carcharhinus plumbeus Chondrichthyes Chordata Chromis verater Class Actinopterygii Class Chondrichthyes Decapterus macarellus Elasmobranch Hawaii IUCN Red List IUCN Red List species at high risk of humancaused extinction Infraclass Teleostei International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species Labroidei Mackerel Scad Neopterygii Ni'ihau Island Niihau Niihau Island Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Pyramid Point dive site RS2035mm Sandbar Shark Selachii spring Subclass Elasmobranchii Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Threespot Chromis United States Vertebrate Vulnerable VU conservation status World Conservation Union IUCN biological chordate living modern sharks organism requiem sharks sharks underwater
Blue-eye Damselfish (Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus)
A pair of Blue-eye Damselfish (Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus) next to a Molokini Crater reef near Maui, Hawaii.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Blueeye Damselfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Molokini Crater dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild winter
Hawaiian Dascyllus
The Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) is a Hawaiian endemic fish species. This example was photographed under water while scuba diving near Maui, Hawaii, USA.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Cnidaria Dascyllus albisella Ecology Fish Hawaii Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Labroidei Maui Maui County Maui dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Tank and LST Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate aquarium aquatic biological biosphere chordate cnidarian coelenterate colony colorful coral deep dive diving exotic explore in situ life living marine naturalworld ocean organism reef saltwater scuba sea snorkeling swim swimming travel tropical underwater vacation water wildlife winter
Agile Chromis schooling over Finger Coral
Agile Chromis (Chromis agilis) schooling over Finger Coral (Porites compressa).
Actinopterygii Agile Chromis Animal Anthozoa Biology Chordata Chromis agilis Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Labroidei Neopterygii Order Scleractinia Perciformes Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pomacentridae Porites compressa Poritidae Seacam underwater housing South Kona dive site S. of Cpt. Cook no mooring Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Zoantharia biological biosphere chordate cnidarian coelenterate finger coral in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild winter
Hawaiian Dascyllus and Bicolor Anthias
Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) and Bicolor Anthias (Pseudanthias bicolor) hover over a dead coral head.
Actinopterygii Animal Bicolor Anthias Big Island Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Ecology Hawaii Hawaii Island Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Percoidei Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Pseudanthias bicolor Seacam underwater housing Serranidae Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei The Big Island United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Blackfin Chromis
Blackfin Chromis (Chromis vanderbilti) is a Hawaiian endemic fish species.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Blackfin Chromis Chordata Chromis ovalis Chromis vanderbilti Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kauai Island Kauai dive site Sheraton Caverns Labroidei Neopterygii Oval Chromis Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ juvenile living marine life naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Hawaiian Dascyllus finning over its algae garden.
Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) finning over its algae garden.
Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Ecology Hawaii Hawaii Island Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Kona Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei The Big Island United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
A group of four Hawaiian Dascyllus
A group of four Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Ecology Golden Arches Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus
A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Ecology Golden Arches Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus
A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella), a Hawaiian endemic fish, off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island during the spring. This photograph was taken while scuba diving with Jack's Diving Locker at the Golden Arches dive site.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Ecology Golden Arches Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labroidei Neopterygii Pacificstock RF Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus over bleached antler coral
A school of Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella), a Hawaiian endemic fish, over a bleached antler coral (Pocillopora eydouxi) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island during the spring. This photograph was taken while scuba diving with Jack's Diving Locker at the Golden Arches dive site.
formally Pocillopora eydouxi Actinopterygii Animal Anthozoa Antler Coral Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Dascyllus albisella Ecology Golden Arches Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Kona coast dive site Labroidei Neopterygii Order Scleractinia Pacificstock RF Perciformes Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pocillopora grandis Pocilloporidae Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate Zoantharia biological biosphere chordate cnidarian coelenterate coral bleaching in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Schooling Hawaiian Sargeant
Schooling Hawaiian Sargeant (Abudefduf abdominalis) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island during the spring.
Abudefduf abdomalis x A. vaigiensis Abudefduf abdominalis Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Sergeant Hawaiian endemic Hybrid sergeant Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Neopterygii Pacificstock RFA Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Head-on underwater view of a Hawaiian Sergeant
Head-on underwater view of a Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis) with its mate off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Abudefduf abdominalis Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Sergeant Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Endemic Hawaiian Sargeant
Lateral underwater view of the endemic Hawaiian Sargeant (Abudefduf abdominalis) off the Kona coast, The Big island, Hawaii.
Abudefduf abdominalis Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Sergeant Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship endemic in situ living male marine life naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism underwater underwaterphoto wild
Threespot Chromis portrait
Threespot Chromis (Chromis verater) portrait taken while scuba diving the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Chromis verater Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pipedream Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Threespot Chromis Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate endemic in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Spawning Hawaiian Dascyllus
Spawning Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) off the Kona coast, Hawaii Island.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Ecology Garden Eel Cove Hawaiian Dascyllus Infraclass Teleostei Kona coast dive site Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Spring Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving spawning spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
An Agile Chromis over mound coral
An Agile Chromis (Chromis agilis) over mound coral (Porites lutea) at Kona, Hawaii Island. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Actinopterygii Agile Chromis Animal Anthozoa Big Island Biology Chordata Chromis agilis Class Actinopterygii Class Anthozoa Cnidaria Ecology Hawaii Infraclass Teleostei Invertebrate Kona Labroidei Mound Coral Neopterygii Order Scleractinia Perciformes Phylum Chordata Phylum Cnidaria Pomacentridae Porites lutea Poritidae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Hexacorallia Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate Zoantharia biological biosphere chordate cnidarian coelenterate fish portrait in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild winter
Indo-Pacific Sergeant guarding eggs
Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudeduf vaigiensis) guarding a clutch of eggs laid on a rocky reef off the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA.
Abudefduf vaigiensis Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaii IndoPacific Sergeant Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Molokini Crater dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship guarding eggs in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism reproduction spawning spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild winter
Hawaiian Sergeant guarding eggs
Breeding-color male Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudeduf abdominalis) guarding a clutch of eggs laid on a rocky reef off the Kona coast, the Big Island, Hawaii, USA.
Abudefduf abdominalis Actinopterygii Animal Big Island Biology Blueeye Damselfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaii Hawaiian Sergeant Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Molokini Crater dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship endemic guarding eggs in situ living male marine life naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism reproduction spawning spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild winter
Hawaiian Dascyllus
Hawaiian Dascyllus (Dascyllus albisella) at Molokini Crater near Maui Island, Hawaii. Aspect Ratio = 1:1.
Actinopterygii Animal Biology Chordata Class Actinopterygii Dascyllus albisella Ecology Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Pomacentridae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism scuba scuba diving underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild
Breeding female Indo-Pacific Sergeant
A breeding female Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudeduf vaigienesis), an invasive species, over her egg mass at Molokini Crater, Maui Island, Hawaii. Her extended genital papilla is visible (forward of anal fin). Aspect Ratio = 16:9.
Abudefduf vaigiensis Actinopterygii Animal Biology Blueeye Damselfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Genital Papilla IndoPacific Sergeant Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Molokini Crater dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship damselfish eggs female in situ living marine life naturalworld nature organism reproduction spawning spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild winter
Indo-Pacific Sergeant
An Indo-Pacific Sergeant pair photographed under water while scuba diving at Molokini Crater, Maui Island, Hawaii. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Abudefduf vaigiensis Actinopterygii Animal Biology Blueeye Damselfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology IndoPacific Sergeant Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Molokini Crater dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere chordate courtship damselfish eggs in situ living marine marine life naturalworld nature organism reproduction scuba scuba diving spawning spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild winter
Breeding color male Hawaiian Sargeant
Underwater close-up view of a breeding color male Hawaiian Sargeant (Abudeduf abdominalis) at Molokini Crater, Maui, Hawaii. Aspect Ratio = 16:9.
Abudefduf abdominalis Actinopterygii Animal Biology Blueeye Damselfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Sergeant Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Molokini Crater dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship damselfish endemic in situ living male marine life naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism reproduction spawning spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild winter
Hawaiian Sergeant guarding eggs
Breeding-color male Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudeduf abdominalis) guarding a clutch of eggs laid on a rocky reef at Molokini Crater, Maui, Hawaii. Aspect Ratio = 16:9.
Abudefduf abdominalis Actinopterygii Animal Biology Blueeye Damselfish Chordata Class Actinopterygii Ecology Hawaiian Sergeant Hawaiian endemic Infraclass Teleostei Labroidei Molokini Crater dive site Neopterygii Perciformes Phylum Chordata Plectroglyphiododon johnsonianus Pomacentridae Reproductive behavior Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biological biosphere breeding colors chordate courtship damselfish eggs endemic in situ living male marine life naturalworld nature nuptial coloration organism reproduction spawning spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild winter