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ANIMAL SPECIES:Staghorn Damsel, Amblyglyphidodon curacao (Bloch, 1787)

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The Staghorn Damsel is a tropical, marine species that has broad dark bars on a silvery green body.  This fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific.

Identification

The Staghorn Damsel has three or four broad dark bars on a silvery green body. The caudal fin has a black margin.

Size range

13 cm

Distribution

This fish occurs in tropical marine waters of the Western Pacific, from the Philippine Islands north to China and Japan, throughout Micronesia, south to Australia and east to Fiji.

In Australia it is known from the offshore reefs of north-western Western Australia and from the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Staghorn Damsel specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The Staghorn Damsel inhabits coral reefs and protected lagoons in depths from 1 m to 40 m.

Juvenile Staghorn Damsels are commonly seen in and around soft corals such as Sarcophyton spp and Sinularia spp.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

Adult Staghorn Damsels are commonly seen in large aggregations feeding on zooplankton a few metres above Staghorn coral Acropora spp.

Classification

Species:
curacao
Genus:
Amblyglyphidodon
Family:
Pomacentridae
Order:
Perciformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  • Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
  • Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications. Pp. 237.
  • Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
  • Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  • Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 10 June 2010

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