Three-spot Dascyllus Dascyllus trimaculatus

Category
  • Fringing Reef
Tags
  • Damselfishes
  • Three-Spot Dascyllus
  • Lagoon coral patches

Description

 Dascyllus trimaculatus is from the order of Perciformes and family of Pomacentridae. It is commonly known as the Threespot humbug. Juveniles have an overall black body, with black blotches on the forehead and on the sides. These colours fades as the fish grow into adults. Their scales have a bluish centre. Adults are more greyish in colour with variable spots or reduced spots or no spots at all. Some individuals possess yellow caudal, anal and pelvic fins[1]. There is a total of 12 to 13 dorsal spines, 18 to 20 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines and 15 to 17 anal soft rays.

 

[1] Fishelson, ‘Behaviour, Socio‐ecology and Sexuality in Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)’.

Habitat and ecology

This species is present across the Indo-Pacific region. Recorded depth range is between 1 to 55 meters. They can be found in coral and rocky reefs. They are found in small or large groups and are often seen living with anemones. Their diet consists of algae and planktonic crustaceans. Adults form distinct pairs during breeding. Their eggs adhere to the substrate and the males guard them until they hatch.

 

Conservation and management

The conservation status of this species has not been evaluated yet. They form a significant part of the aquarium trade which could potentially harm population stability.

Did you know?

This juvenile of this species are often seen living in sea urchins, branching corals or large sea anemones such as the Giant carpet anemone (Stichodactyla gigantea)[1].

 

[1] ‘Three-Spot Dascyllus (Dascyllus Trimaculatus) on the Shores of Singapore’.

References

‘(2) (PDF) Growth and Longevity of the Protogynous Parrotfish, Hipposcarus Harid, Scarus Ferrugineus and Chlorurus Sordidus (Teleostei, Scaridae), off the Eastern Coast of the Red Sea’. ResearchGate. Accessed 25 November 2018. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230444163_Growth_and_longevity_of_the_protogynous_parrotfish_Hipposcarus_harid_Scarus_ferrugineus_and_Chlorurus_sordidus_Teleostei_Scaridae_off_the_eastern_coast_of_the_Red_Sea.

Chase, T. J., M. S. Pratchett, S. P. W. Walker, and M. O. Hoogenboom. ‘Small-Scale Environmental Variation Influences Whether Coral-Dwelling Fish Promote or Impede Coral Growth’. Oecologia 176, no. 4 (December 2014): 1009–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-014-3065-9.

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Cheung, W.W.L., Y. Sadovy, and M. Liu. ‘The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species’. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2010. https://www.iucnredlist.org/en.

‘Chlorurus Sordidus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 25 November 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Chlorurus-sordidus.html.

Choat, J.H., Kent E. Carpenter, K.D. Clements, L.A. Rocha, B. Russell, R. Myers, M.E. Lazuardi, A. Muljadi, S. Pardede, and P. Rahardjo. ‘The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species’. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2012. https://www.iucnredlist.org/en.

‘Chromis Viridis’. Accessed 25 November 2018. http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/329#summary.

‘Chromis Viridis | DORIS’. Accessed 25 November 2018. http://doris.ffessm.fr/Especes/Chromis-viridis-Demoiselle-bleu-vert-2372.

‘Chromis Viridis Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 25 November 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Chromis-viridis.html.

‘Chrysiptera Brownriggii Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 27 November 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Chrysiptera-brownriggii.html.

‘Chrysiptera Glauca Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 27 November 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Chrysiptera-glauca.html.

‘Coris Aygula Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 25 November 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Coris-aygula.html.

‘Ctenochaetus Striatus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 27 November 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Ctenochaetus-striatus.html.

‘Dascyllus Aruanus Summary Page’. FishBase. Accessed 27 November 2018. https://www.fishbase.us/summary/Dascyllus-aruanus.html.

Fishelson, Lev. ‘Behaviour, Socio‐ecology and Sexuality in Damselfishes (Pomacentridae)’. Italian Journal of Zoology 65, no. sup1 (January 1998): 387–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/11250009809386853.

‘Greenfin Parrotfish, Chlorurus Sordidus (Forsskål, 1775) - Australian Museum’. Accessed 25 November 2018. https://australianmuseum.net.au/bullethead-parrotfish-chlorurus-sordidus-forsskal-1775.

Meyer, C. G., J. J. Dale, and C. E. Clark. ‘Unusual Surface Schooling Behavior by Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus Sordidus)’. Coral Reefs 29, no. 4 (1 December 2010): 881–881. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-010-0657-7.

Phillips, Genevieve A. C., Martin J. How, Julia E. Lange, N. Justin Marshall, and Karen L. Cheney. ‘Disruptive Colouration in Reef Fish: Does Matching the Background Reduce Predation Risk?’ The Journal of Experimental Biology 220, no. 11 (1 June 2017): 1962–74. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.151480.

Tebbett, Sterling B., Christopher H. R. Goatley, and David R. Bellwood. ‘Clarifying Functional Roles: Algal Removal by the Surgeonfishes Ctenochaetus Striatus and Acanthurus Nigrofuscus’. Coral Reefs 36, no. 3 (September 2017): 803–13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-017-1571-z.

‘The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species’. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Accessed 25 November 2018. https://www.iucnredlist.org/en.

‘Three-Spot Dascyllus (Dascyllus Trimaculatus) on the Shores of Singapore’. Accessed 27 November 2018. http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/vertebrates/fish/pomacentridae/trimaculatus.htm.

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