TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-likes)
Family: Pomacentridae (Damselfishes)
Genus/species Chromis margaritifer
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Dark brown, almost black, with white rear body including tail and rear dorsal and anal fins. Caudal fin lobes end in two filaments. Black spot at base of pectoral fin. Spine tips of the dorsal fin are blue. Max length: 9 cm or 3.5 in.
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Pacific Ocean: Christmas Island and northwestern Australia in the eastern Indian Ocean on exposed seaward reefs; less abundant in lagoons and channels.
DIET IN THE WILD: Zooplankton, algae. Feeds in large groups.
REPRODUCTION: Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding with the males guarding and aerating the eggs.
Commensalism Cluster PR34, Philippine Coral Reef PR04
Ref. fishbase, EOL, Reef Fish ID Tropical Pacific, Allen et al, 2003.
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