Speckled Damsel

Pomacentrus bankanensis is a Damselfish from the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

Description

It is orange brown with blue spots on the scale centres. It has bright blue to purple lines on the head, one of which runs along the dorsal midline. There is an ocellus on the dorsal fin rays. The caudal fin is white. It grows to a size of 9cm in length.

Distribution

Western Pacific: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to Rowley Shoals and Scott Reef (eastern Indian Ocean) and New Caledonia.

Habitat

Adults occur solitarily or in small groups in lagoons, reef flats, passages, and outer reef slopes. It usually found amongst coarse rubble or rock. It feeds primarily on pelagic materials, such as copepods, isopods, and pelagic tunicates and opportunistically algae. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.