Pomacentrus moluccensis
Lemon Damsel
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Actinopterygii
Order
Perciformes
Family
Pomacentridae
Genus
Pomacentrus
Species
Pomacentrus moluccensis
Colours
Distinguishing features
A small planktivorous damselfish with a bright yellow body. Similar to P. amboinensis but the latter species has an ocellus on the rear of the dorsal fin at all sizes, and is seen near sandy areas on reef edges.
Size
- Up to 10 cm (Standard length)
Depth range
- Depth range data is not yet available.
Synonyms
Similar taxa
Distribution
©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution
Distribution and habitat preferences
Found in all habitats where hard corals are present.
Found in most locations around the Island.
Behaviour
The Lemon Damsel is very common at Lizard Island, where it is easily seen due to its very bright colouration and habit of living close to branching corals in nearly all reef habitats. This species is an excellent generalist, able to feed on both plankton or turf algae as the opportunity arises. This species usually recruits in December and January, and the newly settled fishes are also found close to Acroporid corals.
Web resources
References
References that assist with identification
- Streit, R.P. and D.R. Bellwood (2017). High prevalence of homing behaviour among juvenile coral-reef fishes and the role of body size, Coral Reefs, 36(4): 1083-1095. LIRS catalog number 2091.
Other references
- Abdulla, A. (2004). Predator-prey interactions in coral reef fish: the implications of predation risk on the behaviour and growth of prey, Ph.D. thesis, James Cook University. LIRS catalog number 1296.
- Almany, G.R. (2004). Priority effects in coral reef fish communities of the Great Barrier Reef, Ecology, 85: 2872-2880. LIRS catalog number 879.
- View all references