POMACENTRUS BRACHIALIS - (CUVIER, 1830)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Cichliformes (Order) > Pomacentridae (Family) > Pomacentrinae (Subfamily) > Pomacentrus (Genus)
Demoiselle noire, Bar-finned damsel, Black damsel, Charcoal damsel, Charcoal damselfish, പടതാം, പടത്തം, 臂雀鲷, 黑鳍雀,
Synonymes
Pomacentrus melanopterus (Bleeker, 1852)
Pseudopomacentrus rainfordi (Whitley, 1935)
---------------------------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 14-15. A dark grey to blackish damselfish with a large black spot covering the pectoral-fin base. Juveniles also have the pectoral-fin spot and are bluish-grey with bright blue fin margins. Max length: 8.0 cm SL. Depth range: 6 - 40 m.
Etymology
Pomacentrus: from Greek, poma, -atos = cover, operculum + from Greek, kentron = something with a sharp point: point, spike, spur, sting, quill, thorn. Referring to serrations and prickles along margins of opercular bones of Pomacentrus pavo.
brachialis: from Latin, brachium, which derives from Greek, brachion = arm, in reference to the region of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow.
Original description: Pomacentrus brachialis Cuvier, 1830 - Type locality: Java, Indonesia.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia to Philippines, east to New Caledonia and Fiji, Australia and Great Barrier Reef.
Biology
Adults are found in passages and outer reef slopes; also in current prone and clear water reef flats to 40 m depth. They occur singly or in small groups. Feed on zooplankton and benthic algae. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.
Similar species
Pomacentrus flavoaxillaris (Allen, Erdmann & Purtiwi, 2017) - Widely distributed in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Caroline Islands east of Palau, ranging from Ngulu Atoll to Kosrae, with intermediate locations that include Yap, Ulithi Atoll, Chuuk, Mortlock Islands, and Pohnpei. Caracterised by yellow marking on the inner pectoral-fin axil, a pronounced white areas at the base of the posterior dorsal and anal fins, a whitish caudal peduncle, and an overall general paler coloration of the ventral body.
Stegastes nigricans (Lacepède, 1802) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Pseudopomacentrus rainfordi (Whitley, 1935)
---------------------------------------------
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 14-15. A dark grey to blackish damselfish with a large black spot covering the pectoral-fin base. Juveniles also have the pectoral-fin spot and are bluish-grey with bright blue fin margins. Max length: 8.0 cm SL. Depth range: 6 - 40 m.
Etymology
Pomacentrus: from Greek, poma, -atos = cover, operculum + from Greek, kentron = something with a sharp point: point, spike, spur, sting, quill, thorn. Referring to serrations and prickles along margins of opercular bones of Pomacentrus pavo.
brachialis: from Latin, brachium, which derives from Greek, brachion = arm, in reference to the region of the upper limb between the shoulder and the elbow.
Original description: Pomacentrus brachialis Cuvier, 1830 - Type locality: Java, Indonesia.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia to Philippines, east to New Caledonia and Fiji, Australia and Great Barrier Reef.
Biology
Adults are found in passages and outer reef slopes; also in current prone and clear water reef flats to 40 m depth. They occur singly or in small groups. Feed on zooplankton and benthic algae. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs.
Similar species
Pomacentrus flavoaxillaris (Allen, Erdmann & Purtiwi, 2017) - Widely distributed in the Federated States of Micronesia, the Caroline Islands east of Palau, ranging from Ngulu Atoll to Kosrae, with intermediate locations that include Yap, Ulithi Atoll, Chuuk, Mortlock Islands, and Pohnpei. Caracterised by yellow marking on the inner pectoral-fin axil, a pronounced white areas at the base of the posterior dorsal and anal fins, a whitish caudal peduncle, and an overall general paler coloration of the ventral body.
Stegastes nigricans (Lacepède, 1802) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).