Three-spot Dascyllus (juvenile)

Dascyllus trimaculatus is a species of damselfish from the family Pomacentridae.

Description

Its grey to black body has two lateral white spots and one between the eyes; the threespot dascyllus' grows up to 13 cm in length. Coloration is somewhat variable; the spot on the forehead may be absent and the lateral spots very much reduced.

Distribution

It is native to the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea and East Africa, to the Pitcairn Islands, southern Japan, and Australia.

Habitat

Generally, adults are found in small groups around coral heads or large rocks. Juveniles may be found associated with large sea anemones or sheltering between the spines of diadema sea urchins or branching corals. May be found up to depths of 55 m. It feeds on algae, copepods and other planktonic crustaceans.

Etymology

Trimaculatus, meaning "three-spotted", refers to the fish's three white spots. This accounts also for the common name "domino".