Threespot dascyllus

The threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus), also known as the domino damsel or simply domino, is a species of damselfish from the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa, to the Pitcairn Islands, southern Japan, and Australia.[1] Its grey to black body has two lateral white spots and one between the eyes like domino hence the name; the threespot dascyllus grows up to 13 cm in length. Coloration is somewhat variable; the spot on the forehead may be absent and the lateral spots very much reduced. It feeds on algae, copepods and other planktonic crustaceans.[2]

Threespot dascyllus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Family: Pomacentridae
Genus: Dascyllus
Species:
D. trimaculatus
Binomial name
Dascyllus trimaculatus
(Rüppell, 1829)
Synonyms
  • Pomacentrus trimaculatus Rüppell, 1829
  • Pomacentrus nuchalis Anonymous [Bennett], 1830
  • Dascyllus unicolor Bennett, 1831
  • Dascyllus niger Bleeker, 1847
  • Sparus nigricans Gronow, 1854
  • Dascyllus axillaris J.L.B. Smith, 1935

Habitat

Generally, adults are found in small groups around coral heads or large rocks. Juveniles may be found associated with large sea anemones or sheltering between the spines of diadema sea urchins or branching corals.[3] This species may be found to depths of 55 m.

Etymology

Trimaculatus, meaning "three-spotted", refers to the fish's three white spots. This accounts also for the common name "domino".[4]

  • Threespot dascyllus and anthias grouping over coral near Taba, Egypt
  • A pair of juvenile three-spot dascylluses with their anemone in the Maldives: A pair of black-foot anemonefish can be seen to the top.
  • Juvenile threespot dascyllus (left) and a pair of Maldives anemonefish associated with the sea anemone Heteractis magnifica

References
  1. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Dascyllus trimaculatus" in FishBase. 5 2007 version.
  2. Allen, G.R., 1991. Damselfishes of the world. Mergus Publishers, Melle, Germany. 271 p.
  3. Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2
  4. Siliotti, A. (2002) fishes of the red sea Verona, Geodia ISBN 88-87177-42-2


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