The giant damselfish (Microspathodon dorsalis) is a species of fish that inhabits rocky reefs below the surf zone at depths of 1–25 m. It mainly feeds on low-profile, attached algae. Giant damselfish defend both feeding and reproductive territories by driving off other fishes and divers who come too close. They are oviparous, and form distinct pairings during breeding. The eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.[3]
| Giant damselfish | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Pomacentridae |
| Genus: | Microspathodon |
| Species: | M. dorsalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Microspathodon dorsalis (Gill, 1862)
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| Synonyms[2] | |
Distribution
editEastern Pacific Ocean: central Gulf of California to Malpelo Island (Colombia), including the Revillagigedo, Cocos Island and the Galápagos Islands.[4]
References
edit- ^ Allen, G.; Robertson, R.; Rivera, R.; et al. (2010). "Microspathodon dorsalis". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T183825A8183561. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T183825A8183561.en.
- ^ "Microspathodon dorsalis". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Life. "Details for: Giant Damselfish". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2013-07-15.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Microspathodon dorsalis". FishBase. July 2013 version.
External links
edit- Photos of Giant damselfish on Sealife Collection
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