Animal Species:Indo-Pacific Sergeant, Abudefduf vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825)

Alternative Name/s

It has also been called the Common Sergeant, Five-banded Damsel-fish and Five-banded Sergeant-major.

Identification

The Indo-Pacific Sergeant can be recognised by its distinctive colour pattern. It has a white body with five black bars. It is usually yellow dorsally. The species can be separated from the similar-looking Scissortail Sergeant by the lack of black stripes on the caudal fin.

Size range

It grows to about 20 cm in length.

Distribution

The Indo-Pacific Sergeant occurs in tropical and some warm temperate waters of the Indo-west and Central Pacific.

In Australia, it is known from the central coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south on the east coast to Bass Strait.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Indo-Pacific Sergeant specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It is usually seen in inshore and coral reef waters.

Classification

Species:

vaigiensis

Genus:

Abudefduf

Family:

Pomacentridae

Order:

Perciformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

• Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
• Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
• Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 23 November 2012

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Indo-Pacific Sergeant, Abudefduf vaigiensis, 10 cm - 30 cm, coral reefs, marine,