Microspathodon chrysurus
Yellowtail Damselfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes)
Microspathodon
Microspathodon chrysurus (Yellowtail Damselfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Lachrymal bone notched and very broad; upper jaw teeth flexible, brushlike, in single row; lower jaw teeth incisor-like, stout, in single row forming cutting edge; operculum with small, acute spine on upper margin; gill rakers on first arch short, moderately slender, 10 on upper limb, 15-20 on lower limb; head length 33%-34% SL, snout length 12%-14% SL, eye diameter 8%-9% SL, upper jaw length 9%-10% SL, pectoral fin length 29%-31% SL, body depth 50%-59% SL; pectoral fin rays 20-22; dorsal fin XII, 14-15 (usually 15); anal fin rays 12-13; caudal fin forked; lateral line scales 20-22; scales on most of dorsal and anal fins except posterior tip; cheek scales in four rows plus accessory scales; opercular scales in three series, anterior one incomplete.
Life: dark yellowish brown with darker scale edges, iridescent blue spots on dorsal head, body, and dorsal fin, bright yellow caudal fin; juveniles blue to bluish brown with large metallic blue spots; preservative: dark brown with light colored tail.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from southern Florida and Bermuda to Brazil, including northern and southern Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, and Greater and Lesser Antilles.
Habitat Associations
Very shallow water, associated with coral reefs.
Coral reefs.
Biology
Young feed on zooplankton; adults feed on benthic algae, sponges, harpacticoid copepods, ostracods, isopods, amphipods, and shrimps.
Maximum known size 160 mm SL.
A common (Ref. 9710) territorial species that inhabits coral reefs, juveniles usually encountered among branches of yellow stinging coral, Millepora. Adults are found in very shallow waters of coral reefs, usually near top of outer edge where there are caves, holes, and abundant fire coral (Ref. 26938). Feed primarily on algae but also on polyps of fire coral (Ref. 3139) and other invertebrate animal material (Ref. 13442). Juveniles occasionally pick parasites from other species of fish (Ref. 3139). Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). Occasionally marketed fresh (Ref. 3139). Have been reared in captivity (Ref. 35420).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; guarders (nesters); parental care: paternal. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2010-11-15. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial.
References
Böhlke and Chaplin 1968
Randall 1968a
Randall 1996
Emery 1973
Bright and Cashman 1974
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Schaldach et al. 1997
Smith 1997
Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999
Carter 2002
Randall, J.E. (1967) Food habits of reef fishes of the West Indies. Stud. Trop. Oceanogr. Miami 5:665-847.
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Allen, G.R. (1991) Damselfishes of the world. Mergus Publishers, Melle, Germany. 271 p.
Lieske, E. and R. Myers (1994) Collins Pocket Guide. Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific & Caribbean including the Red Sea. Haper Collins Publishers, 400 p.
Loris, D. and J. Rucabado (1990) Pomacentridae. p. 842-850. In J.C. Quéro, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
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