Gulf Damselfish

Description: Overall greenish grey to light blue, ventral whitish, dorsal sometimes with yellow tinge. Body depth 2.5-2.8 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): 12 - 13; Analspines: 2; Analsoft rays: 12 - 14

Occurs inshore (Ref. 75154). Found mainly along continental margins rather than truly oceanic areas. Inhabits flat sandy or rubble bottoms around patch reefs of lagoons and trawling grounds (Ref. 7247). An active carnivore (Ref. 42247). Diurnal species (Ref. 54980; 113699).

Usually identified as P. jerdoni (Day, 1873), a junior synonym (Ref. 48636). Adults are found mainly along continental margins rather than truly oceanic areas. Inhabits flat sandy or rubble bottoms around patch reefs of lagoons and trawling grounds (Ref. 7247). Adults often seen in small groups out in the open on sandy substrate, swimming well-above the bottom and unlike other damselfishes rely on speed to get away from predators rather than diving into the shelter or reefs or burrow. Juveniles often shallow estuaries, but adults mainly in deeper water offshore at depths of 20+ m and have been reported to 80 m depth (Ref. 48636). 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. 54980; 113699).

fisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: commercial

分布於印度-西太平洋區，由紅海及波斯灣至琉球群島、台灣、印尼、新幾內亞與澳洲北部。台灣發現於東北部、南部、西南部、澎湖及蘭嶼等地。

本身體色豔麗，是受歡迎之水族觀賞魚。

體呈長橢圓形而側扁，標準體長為體高之2.5-2.8倍。吻短而鈍圓。口中型；頜齒單列，小而呈圓錐狀。眶下骨裸出，下緣具鋸齒，眶前骨與眶下骨間具缺刻；前鰓蓋骨及下鰓蓋骨後緣具鋸齒。體被櫛鱗；背前鱗僅延伸至眶間中間；側線之有孔鱗片19-20個。背鰭單一，軟條部不延長而略呈角形，硬棘XIII，軟條12-13；臀鰭硬棘II，軟條12-14；胸鰭鰭條17-18；尾鰭叉形，上下葉末端尖形。 體色淡灰色至藍色；胸鰭基底上緣具一小藍斑或黑斑。

主要棲息於潟湖與礁坪周圍具平坦的沙或碎石的底部。在砂質底部上的開放水域，成魚常被見到形成小群魚群，並游泳離底部一段距離，仰賴速度遠離掠食者，並不像其他的雀鯛是潛水進入庇護所、礁石之內或者掘洞穴。稚魚時常出現於水淺的河口域，但是成魚主要是在水較深的外海，深度超過 20 公尺，而且曾經有報告可達 80 公尺深。