Alexander's Damsel

Pomacentrus alexanderae is a species of marine damselfish in the family Pomacentridae.

Description

It has a pale greyish body with a large black spot around the pectoral-fin base, and black tips on the dorsal-fin spines. It looks similar to a number of other damselfish species but can be distinguished by a combination of characteristics that include body dimensions, counts of fin rays, scales and gill rakers. Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-15; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15.

Distribution

Western Pacific: Indo-Malayan Archipelago east to the Moluccas and Mentawai Islands, north to Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands.

Habitat

Adults occur in lagoon, inshore, and offshore reefs. Usually seen solitary, often swimming well above substrate. Feed on algae, barnacle nauplii, copepods, fish eggs, and small gastropods. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.