Microspathodon dorsalis
Giant Damselfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes)
Microspathodon
Microspathodon dorsalis (Giant Damselfish)
Description
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Characters
Body shape: short and / or deep. Striking features: none.
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: central Gulf of California to Malpelo Island (Colombia), including the Revillagigedo, Cocos and the Galapagos islands (Ref. 9334).
Habitat Associations
Marine. reef-associated. depth range 1-5 m. Found in: coral reefs.
Biology
Adults inhabit rocky reefs, below the surf zone (Ref. 9334). Feed mainly on low-profile, attached algae (Ref. 28023). Defend both feeding and reproductive territories by driving off other fishes and divers who come too close (Ref. 28023). 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).
Max length: 31.0 cm SL; max age: 20 years.
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 2008-05-27. Resilience: Low (tmax=20).
References
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.
Schneider, W. and F. Krupp (1995) Pomacentridae. Castañetas, jaquetas y petacas. p. 1392-1404. In W. Fischer, F. Krupp, W. Schneider, C. Sommer, K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) Guia FAO para Identification de Especies para lo Fines de la Pesca. Pacifico Centro-Oriental. 3 Vols. FAO, Rome.
Grove, J.S. and R.J. Lavenberg (1997) The fishes of the Galápagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford, 863 p.
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