Pomacentridae is a family of ray-finned fish, comprising the damselfishes and clownfishes. This family were formerly placed in the order Perciformes but are now regarded as being incertae sedis in the subseries Ovalentaria in the clade Percomorpha. They are primarily marine, while a few species inhabit freshwater and brackish environments. They are noted for their hardy constitutions and territoriality. Many are brightly colored, so they are popular in aquaria.
Damselfish are those within the subfamilies Abudefdufinae, Chrominae, Lepidozyginae, Pomacentrinae, and Stegastenae within the family Pomacentridae. Most species within this group are relatively small, with the largest species being about 30cm in length. Most damselfish species exist only in marine environments, but a few inhabit brackish or fresh water. These fish are found globally in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters.
Stegastes is a genus of ray-finned fish in the family Pomacentridae. Members of this genus are marine coastal fishes except for S. otophorus, which also occurs in brackish water. These fish are known by the names of damselfish, gregory and major. They are small tropical fish associated with coral and rocky reefs in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are sometimes found in the aquarium trade where they are an easy-to-keep fish, but they do not mix well with other fish of their own or other species because of their territorial habits and aggressiveness.
Stegastes planifrons is a damselfish from the Western Atlantic. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Stegastes diencaeus, the longfin damselfish, is a damselfish in the family Pomacentridae from the Western Atlantic. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade. It grows to a size of 12.5 cm in length. Longfin damselfish have been reported to have a mutualistic relationship with mysid shrimp of the species Mysidium integrum. The interaction is described as a form of domestication with the shrimp providing nutrients for the algae farms the fish feed on and the fish providing protection from predators.
Stegastes leucostictus is a species of damselfish found near the sea bed in shallow waters on the western fringes of the Atlantic Ocean. It is commonly known as the beau gregory or beaugregory.
Stegastes fuscus, the dusky damselfish, is a species of bony fish in the family Pomacentridae found near the seabed in shallow waters on the western fringes of the Atlantic Ocean.
Stegastes partitus or the bicolor damselfish is a species of bony fish in the family Pomacentridae found near the sea bed on shallow rocky and coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of Florida.
Stegastes beebei, is a species of damselfish found on coral and rocky reefs at depths between 0 and 15 m. They are somewhat territorial, and chase away small intruders. They are omnivorous, grazing on algae and nibbling at small crustaceans and the tentacles of anemones. They are oviparous, with distinct pairing during breeding. The eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.
Stegastes fasciolatus, commonly called the Pacific gregory, is a species of damselfish in the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the tropical western Indo-Pacific. It feeds on filamentous algae.
Stegastes imbricatus, commonly called the Cape Verde gregory, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the tropical eastern Atlantic Ocean.
Stegastes leucorus, commonly known as the whitetail damselfish, the whitetail gregory or the whitetail major, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean.
Stegastes acapulcoensis, commonly called the Acapulco major, the Acapulco damselfish, or the Acapulco gregory, is a species of damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Stegastes apicalis, commonly known as the Japanese gregory, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae.
Stegastes arcifrons, the island major or Galapagos gregory, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Its range extending from Costa Rica to the Cocos Islands, Malpelo Island, and the Galapagos Islands. It is found on rocky and coral reefs at depths ranging from 1 to 20 m. It is common in many parts of its range, and its population appears to be stable. No particular threats have been identified, and the IUCN rates it as being of "Least Concern".
Stegastes aureus, the golden gregory, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae native to islands in the tropical Pacific Ocean, its range including New Caledonia, the Gilbert Islands, Line Island, Phoenix Island, Samoa, the Tuamotu Archipelago, and the Marquesas Islands. It is found on coral reefs at depths ranging from 1 to 5 m.
Stegastes flavilatus, commonly known as beaubrummel, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, its range extends from Mexico, Baja California and the Gulf of California southwards to the Galapagos Islands and mainland Ecuador. It is found on rocky inshore reefs at depths ranging from 1 to 10 m.
Stegastes punctatus, commonly known as the blunt snout gregory, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific region where it is found at depths down to 5 m (16 ft). Its range extends from the East African coast and the Red Sea to the Line Islands, the Society Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, the Bonin Islands, New Caledonia, Tonga and Micronesia. It is a very territorial species and drives other fish away from its "garden" of filamentous algae.
Stegastes redemptus, commonly known as the clarion major, clarion damselfish or clarion gregory, is a damselfish of the family Pomacentridae. It is native to the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean, its range extending from the Revillagigedo Islands to the coast of Baja California. It is found on rocky reefs at depths ranging from 1 to 15 m.
Abudefduf declivifrons, commonly known as the Mexican nightsergeant, is a species of damselfish in the family Pomacentridae native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is known only from Mexico, where it ranges from the Gulf of California to Acapulco. It is typically found in surge-exposed rocky reefs at a depth of 1 to 5 m. It is an oviparous species, with individuals forming distinct pairs during breeding and males guarding and aerating eggs. The species reaches 18 cm (7.1 in) in standard length.
