Damselfish are normally bright colored marine fish, although there are a few species that can inhabit freshwater environments. Most are fairly small, growing to a maximum length of about fourteen inches long, and they tend to inhabit tropical reefs. Some, like California’s Garibaldi, live in temperate climates. There are over 300 known damselfish species worldwide, and if you have visited different areas, you are likely to have encountered at least some of them, including those that go by the nickname demoiselle or devil. Let’s take a closer look at these fascinating little fish.
Large Damselfish of the Pacific: Garibaldis and Giants
Garibaldis are some of the largest damsels, as are the aptly named Giant Damsels, which are bluish gray in color. While the bright orange Garibaldi is found only in southern California with a few seen in Baja, Mexico now and again, Giant Damsels are found all along the southern Pacific coast all the way to Panama. They are commonly encountered in depths from 10 to 25 feet, and enjoy big boulder habitats. Like many other damselfish, this species is territorial. You can identify the Giant Damselfish by its long, trailing fin tips, which often have light colored borders. Juveniles have a scattering of iridescent blue spots along their dorsal sides. These fish grow to be about a foot long.
Black Damselfish
Also known as Bowtie Damsels, Black Damselfish inhabit Indo-Pacific waters, thriving on coral reefs. You can find these beautiful fish in the Red Sea and in East Africa, as well as in the Philippines, Palau, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Taiwan, and Northern Australia, including along the Great Barrier Reef. The species goes through two distinct color stages, with juveniles having a light grey or white colored body with yellow contrast on the dorsal side of both body and head, as well as along the tail margins. Adults are jet black, and as they feed on soft corals, they make a stunning contrast and are a favorite subject for photographers. They grow to be about six inches long.
Bleeker’s Damsel
Very small fish that grow to be just about six inches long, Bleeker’s Damsels have a bright violet to blue colored body with a contrasting yellow stripe along the dorsal side, extending from the nose nearly to the end of the dorsal fin. They inhabit the Western Central Pacific Region, including Indonesia and the Philippines.
Blue Devil Damsel
Growing to no larger than about three inches long, Blue Devil Damsels are a fantastic electric blue color, with most having a yellow to orange tail, and a few individuals having yellow patches on their chests, as well. Juveniles are electric blue but lack the yellow / orange contrast that adults display. These brilliant little fish inhabit very shallow water along the Great Barrier Reef, and in Indonesia, as well as the Solomon Islands and the Marianas.
Domino Damsels
Sometimes called Threespot Damsels, Whitespot Pullers, or Whitespot Humbugs, these damsels can be found in shallow water, but will occasionally inhabit deeper reef environments all the way down to about 55 meters. Usually black in color, with distinct white spots on its dorsal side just below the end of the dorsal fin, plus an additional bright white spot at the nape of the neck, this fish grows to a little more than four inches long and can be found from Sydney, Australia, north to Southern Japan. It is also found in East Africa and the Red Sea.
Jewel Damsels
Also known as bluespot damselfish, the Jewel Damsel is a very aggressive yet diminutive fish that grows to be just about four inches long. The fish is black with a pattern of blue to violet dots from the tip of its nose to the beginning of its tailfin, which is clear, white, or yellow. Other fins are black with blue spots and edges. Inhabiting the western Atlantic and Caribbean, it competes with butterfly fish and clownfish for territory, and although they will shoal on reefs as juveniles, they are solitary as adults.
Blue Green Chromis
Also known as the Blue-Green Damselfish or the Blue Green Puller, the Blue Green Damselfish is a lovely iridescent or opalescent bluish green color with a slight pink undertone. Its tail is delicately forked, and its fins are small in comparison with its body size. Growing to a maximum length of just over three inches, this lovely fish inhabits a range stretching from the Red Sea to the Marquesan, Tuamoto, and Line Islands, and northward all the way to Japan’s Ryukyu Islands. To the south, it can be found all the way down to New Caledonia. An interesting color change takes place during nesting, when the males, who are tasked with guarding the nests, transform to shades of black and yellow.
Three Stripe Damsels
Found in the Indian Ocean, these damselfish grow to be just about two inches long. Their bodies feature bold black and white vertical stripes, with three distinct bands, a white patch on the face, and a white tail. Usually found among coral heads, these fish are territorial, particularly when nesting. You’ll find them in shallow reef environments in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, and the Western Pacific.
Clownfishes
An important part of the damsel family, clownfish are renowned both for their bright orange bodies and their symbiotic relationships with the anemones in which many of them live. There are several different types of clownfish that partner with a variety of different anemone species; most live in very shallow tropical water. Keep your distance – these fish are territorial, plus their anemone partners can deliver a nasty sting.
These are just a few of the many damsels you might encounter while diving the world’s reefs – with so many to encounter, you might want to begin keeping a checklist for reference. Many of these fish are popular with the aquarium trade, making them susceptible to capture, and as with other reef species, their homes are threatened by pollution and other threats to the environment. Still, they are abundant and fascinating to watch, particularly when mating and nesting. Spend just a few minutes watching as they put on a show, and you’ll be hooked.