Pomacentrus amboinensis

Pomacentrus amboinensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Pomacentridae
Genus: Pomacentrus
Species: P. amboinensis
Binomial name
Pomacentrus amboinensis
Bleeker, 1868
Juvenile Pomacentrus amboinensis showing eyespot on dorsal fin.

Pomacentrus amboinensis is a Damselfish from the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 9cm in length.

They live in small groups of one mature male that guards a nest site on the seafloor and several females.[1] Once settled, females rarely migrate. New juveniles can usually join groups easily.[2] As they reach sexual maturity, they usually lose their "eyespot" on their dorsal fin. P. amboinensis is a protogynous species - all individuals start out as females and later can turn into males. However some males retain the appearance of juveniles, probably to sneak into the harems of dominant males.[2]

This species has been shown to have colour vision using behavioural experiments that control for brightness, apparently being the first known example of colour discrimination in reef fish.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Maddams, J. C.; McCormick, M. I. (2012). Browman, Howard, ed. "Not All Offspring Are Created Equal: Variation in Larval Characteristics in a Serially Spawning Damselfish". PLoS ONE. 7 (11): e48525. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0048525. PMC 3498294Freely accessible. PMID 23155389.
  2. 1 2 Gagliano, M.; Depczynski, M. (2013). Gerardo, Nicole M, ed. "Spot the Difference: Mimicry in a Coral Reef Fish". PLoS ONE. 8 (2): e55938. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055938. PMC 3572176Freely accessible. PMID 23418480.
  3. ↑ Siebeck, U. E., Wallis, G. M., & Litherland, L. (2008). Colour vision in coral reef fish. Journal of Experimental Biology, 211(3), 354-360. doi: 10.1242/jeb.012880
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