Brackish Damsel

Description: Overall dark brown, forehead remnant markings neon-blue, dorsal-fin posterior with ocellus, caudal fin yellow. Body depth 1.8-2.1 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205).

Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 14; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 13 - 14

Occurs solitarily or in small groups in lagoons, harbors, coastal reefs and outer reef slopes, frequently among branching alcyonarians. Also found in mangrove creeks (sometimes in freshwater), brackish lagoons and shallow reefs exposed to freshwater runoff. Feeds primarily on benthic algae. Diurnal species (Ref. 113699).

Adults occur solitarily or in small groups in lagoons, harbors, coastal reefs and outer reef slopes, frequently among branching alcyonarians. Also found in mangrove creeks (sometimes in freshwater), brackish lagoons and shallow reefs exposed to freshwater runoff; found well upstream in pure freshwater (Ref. 48636). Feed primarily on benthic algae. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding (Ref. 205). Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate (Ref. 205). Males guard and aerate the eggs (Ref. 205). Diurnal species (Ref. 113699).

分布於印度-西太平洋區包括印度-馬來列島、台灣及琉球群島。台灣主要發現於西南部的大鵬灣。

中小型之雀鯛，可食用，一般不為漁獲對象魚。有人將其作觀賞魚之用。

體呈橢圓形而側扁，標準體長為體高之1.9-2.1倍。吻短而鈍圓。口中型；頜齒兩列，小而呈圓錐狀。眶下骨裸出，下緣具粗的鋸齒，眶前骨與眶下骨間具缺刻；前鰓蓋骨後緣具鋸齒。體被櫛鱗；鼻部具鱗；側線之有孔鱗片18-19個。背鰭單一，軟條部不延長而略呈角形，硬棘XIII，軟條13-14；臀鰭硬棘II，軟條13-14；胸鰭鰭條17-18；尾鰭叉形，上下葉末端呈角狀。體呈淡灰色至暗灰色或暗褐色；鱗片通常具有垂直的藍線或點。胸鰭全為淡色；尾鰭鮮黃色。背鰭後方具眼斑，大成魚消失。

主要棲息於潟湖、港灣、岸礁與外礁斜坡區。亦發現於紅樹林小溪 (有時在淡水中)、半鹹淡的潟湖、有淡水流入的淺水礁區；亦被發現在純淡水中成功地向上游。單獨地或形成小群魚群生存。主要以底藻為食。