THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

166 A Docent Field Guide to the Species of the Steinhart Aquarium
pair off and the breeding pair establishes a territory,
which they defend vigorously. Female
damselfish releases eggs, which the male fertilizes
by releasing sperm over them. Yolk-sac
larvae have planktonic development.
Remarks: Damselfishes are laterally compressed
and, like their cichlid relatives, are
characterized by single nostril on each side of
the snout rather than the usual two.
Damselfishes often occur in high population
densities, and as a group are known to be aggressive
and territorial.
Yellowtail Blue Damselfish
Chrysiptera parasema (Pomacentridae)
Damselfishes
Distribution: Western Pacific.
Habitat: Coral-rich areas of sheltered lagoon
and inshore coral reefs. Inhabits rubble beds
on lagoon reefs. Occurs in small groups on
Acropora patches.
Appearance: Small, blue-bodied fish with a
yellow tail; 7–9 cm in length. Colors become
less contrasting with age.
Diet: Omnivore.
Reproduction and Development: Damsels pair
off and the breeding pair establishes a territory,
which they defend vigorously. Female damselfish
releases eggs, which the male fertilizes
by releasing sperm over them. Yolk-sac larvae
have planktonic development.
Remarks: Have been bred in captivity.
Southseas Devil
Chrysiptera taupou (Pomacentridae)
Damselfishes
Distribution: Great Barrier Reef to Samoa, east
to Northern California.
Habitat: Lagoon and offshore reefs, 1–10 m.
Appearance: Length to 8 cm. Deep, compressed
body. Small terminal mouth. Continuous dorsal
fin. Body primarily blue. Belly, pelvic, anal,
posterior dorsal and caudal fins yellow. Spinous
dorsal fin yellow on mature males, blue
on mature females.
Diet: Benthic algae, zooplankton.
Blacktail Damselfish
Dascyllus melanurus (Pomacentridae)
Damselfishes
Distribution: Western Pacific: Indonesia, Phil-
ippines to northern Great Barrier Reef and
Coral Sea; also eastern Caroline Islands.
Habitat: Among branching corals in inshore
and lagoon reefs to 68 m. Form groups, typically
in shallow water.
Appearance: Deep and compressed body; white
with three black bars, rear two-thirds of tail is
black; large white spot between eyes extends to
lips. Pectoral fins transparent. Length to 8 cm.
Diet: Plankton, including larval shrimps and
crabs; algae, ostracods, amphipods, pelagic
tunicates, copepods, and fish eggs.
Reproduction and Development: Lay demersal
eggs that are guarded by the male. After
hatching, larval stage lasts 22–24 days. Recent
research suggests this species is a protogynous
hermaphrodite.
Remarks: Hide among Acropora branching
corals when threatened, though adults have
an aggressive temperament.
Garibaldi
Hypsypops rubicundus (Pomacentridae)
Damselfishes
Distribution: Monterey Bay, California to
southern Baja California.
Habitat: Rocky bottom reefs and kelp beds,
intertidal to more than 30 m. Often near crevices
and caves.
Appearance: Length to 36 cm. Adults are
perched-shaped and brilliant orange. Juveniles
have iridescent blue markings.
Diet: Sponges, bryozoans, anemones and
worms.
Reproduction and Development: Female produces
15,000-88,000 eggs, depending on their
size. Male clears a sheltered nest, removing all
but red algae, and aggressively guards the nest.
Mortality/Longevity: Lives to at least 17 years.
Conservation Status: California law protects
the garibaldi from sport or commercial fishing.
If inadvertently caught, the fish must be
released alive.
Remarks: This species is the official fish of the
State of California.
Adults patrol their territories. The distinctive
markings of the juveniles may alert aggressive
adults to their status and negate an attack.
Common name is a reference to the redshirts
worn by the armies of Giuseppe Garibaldi, a
fighter for Italian unification.