Ambon Chromis

Chromis amboinensis is a damselfish from the Western Pacific. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

Description

It has a relatively deep brownish-grey body a large yellow spot at the pectoral-fin base, dark outer caudal-fin rays, white pelvic and anal fins, elongate dorsal, anal and caudal-fin filaments, and whitish blue or translucent areas on the rear of the dorsal and anal fins. It grows to a size of 9 cm (3.5 in) in length.

Distribution

Western Pacific: Christmas Island and the northwest shelf of Australia in the eastern Indian Ocean to as far east as Samoa, Tonga and the Marshall Islands.

Habitat

Adults inhabit coral-rich areas of clear lagoon and seaward reefs. Abundant on steep outer reef slopes below 24 m, uncommon in lagoons. Juveniles in large branching corals, adults mainly in caves. Found in aggregations. It is diurnal species. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.