Latin name

Dischistodus darwiniensis

Other name

Banded damselfish

Identification

Banded damselfish have a large, oval body, flattened on the sides, covered with moderately large and coarse ctenoid scales. The head is blunt, with a pointed snout, and extensively scaled.

Features of fish fins

The dorsal fin is single, rather long, between the barb (anterior) and soft parts. The base of the barb is longer than the base of the soft. The anal fin has 2-3 barb rays and 10-14 soft rays, its soft part is similar to the same part of the dorsal fin. The first ray of the pelvic fin is somewhat elongated. 

Fish colouring

Banded damsel fish are white with black and yellow stripes on the back.

Distribution

Widespread in the Arafura Sea, eastern Indian Ocean. Endemic species, Northern Territory (Australia), Timor Sea, Western Australia.

Habitat

Tropical marine species. It inhabits tropical rocky or coral reefs at depths from 0 to 15 m, with water temperatures of 22.4-31.3 °C.

Size

Relatively small fish. The maximum length of fish of this species is 10 cm.

Behavior

Banded damsel fish lead a cautious lifestyle. They are probably territorial fish that aggressively guard their habitat resources. 

Food and feeding habits

The diet of the banded damselfish consists of amphipods, invertebrates, krill, marine snow, mysis, zooplankton.

Reproduction

After spawning, the males of this species guard the eggs from other fish, oxygenate them, and remove the undeveloped offspring.

Fishing

This species is not commercially important.

Relationship with a person

There are no reports of these fish being successfully kept in captivity.