Galapagos Damsel

Color olive-gray with a light-blue tint, silver on the ventral side; snout dusky, a black spot at pectoral fin base; pale gray pelvic and anal fins, dusky dorsal fin. Body more slender compared to other Galápagos damselfish. Preorbital bone smooth without a notchlike projection; edge of preopercle irregular, weakly serrate. Lateral line complete and conspicuous (Ref. 28023).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 11 - 12

Apparently this species prefers open water near drop-offs, although individuals are found in a variety of inshore habitats to depths of 30 meters. It is not a common species and resident aggregations have strong preferences for specific sites. Feeds mainly on plankton in the water column, usually in heterotypic aggregations with Chromis atrilobata (Ref.28023)..

Apparently this species prefers open water near drop-offs, although individuals are found in a variety of inshore habitats to depths of 30 meters. It is not a common species and resident aggregations have strong preferences for specific sites. Feeds mainly on plankton in the water column, usually in heterotypic aggregations with Chromis atrilobata. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). Prior to the 1982-83 El Niño, a small aggregation frequented the shallow water just west of Pinnacle Rock at Bartolomé. But despite intensive observations during the decade after this event, no records of this species were made (Ref. 28023).