Stegastes planifrons
Threespot Damselfish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Perciformes (Perciformes, Also Called the Acanthopteri)
Pomacentridae (Damselfishes)
Stegastes
Stegastes planifrons (Threespot 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
Serrated preopercular margin, relatively long anal fin, broad saddle-shaped blotch on top of caudal peduncle, lachrymal bone not notched, jaw teeth incisor-like and close set, suborbital shelf entire, operculum with 2 spines on upper margin, gill rakers on first arch short and moderately slender (17-20), measurements (% SL): head length 31%-34%, snout length 8%-10%, eye diameter 8%-9%, upper jaw length 7%-8%, pectoral fin length 28%-31%, body depth 48%-59%, pectoral fin rays 18-20, dorsal fin XII, 15-17, anal fin 13-14 rays, caudal fin forked, lateral line scales 18-20, scales on dorsal and anal fins except posterior tips, cheek scales in 4 rows, opercular scales in 3 columns
Brownish gray with yellowish cast and vertical dark lines along scale margins, large dark spot on pectoral fin base, large saddle-shaped blotch on upper surface of caudal peduncle (lost with growth), juveniles bright yellow with dark spot on dorsal fin base, small spot on upper part of pectoral fin base, and dark saddle-shaped blotch on caudal peduncle; in preservative, dark brown with dark vertical lines, spot on pectoral fin base, and saddle-shaped blotch evident
Distribution
Western Atlantic from North Carolina and Bermuda to Venezuela, including northern and southern Gulf of Mexico
Habitat Associations
Coral reefs, to a depth of 30 m
Associated with coral reefs
Biology
Benthic algae, hydroids, sponges, mollusks, polychaetes, and harpacticoid copepods
Maximum known size is 90 mm SL
Adults inhabit inshore and offshore coral reefs. They are found within caves at night (Ref. 9626). Often found in tangles of staghorn coral; anywhere there is abundant algae on reefs (Ref. 26938). Feed mainly on algae but also on harpacticoid copepods, small gastropods, eggs of mollusks, sponges, polychaetes and hydroids (Ref. 9626). Juveniles subsist on the external parasites of fishes (Ref. 5521). Adults pugnaciously guard large territories, will chase and nip intruders of all sizes, including divers (Ref. 9710). 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). Taken incidentally in traps and small-meshed beach nets (Ref. 5217).
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: High (K=0.33-0.58).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Böhlke and Chaplin 1968 (as Eupomacentrus planifrons)
Randall 1968a
Randall 1996
Emery 1973 (as E. planifrons)
Bright and Cashman 1974 (as Pomacentrus planifrons)
Hoese and Moore 1977 (as P. planifrons)
Hoese and Moore 1998 (as P. planifrons)
Robins and Ray 1986 (as P. planifrons)
Allen 1991
Boschung 1992
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.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Claro, R. (1994) Características generales de la ictiofauna. p. 55-70. In R. Claro (ed.) Ecología de los peces marinos de Cuba. Instituto de Oceanología Academia de Ciencias de Cuba and Centro de Investigaciones de Quintana Roo.
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