Doublebar Chromis

Chromis opercularis is a species of fish in the family Pomacentridae.

Description

It has a silvery-grey to a bronzy-brown body with a dark bar on the gill cover behind the eye, a broad dark bar behind the head running onto the pectoral-fin base, dark-edged scales, a dusky to brownish tail, often with a yellow caudal peduncle, and a broad pale or transparent margin on the dorsal and anal fins. Juveniles are silvery-blue with elongate yellow caudal-fin lobes.

Distribution

Indian Ocean: widespread from East Africa to Andaman Sea; also known from Christmas Island. Western Pacific: Taiwan, Australia and Vanuatu Island.

Habitat

It is a diurnal species. Inhabits outer reef slopes and deep lagoons often around oceanic islands, usually forming aggregations well above the seafloor. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.