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Australian Damsel
Pomacentrus australis Allen & Robertson, 1973
Above and below: An Australian Damsel at a depth of 8 m, South West Rocks, New South Wales, June 2004. Photo © D. Harasti. View larger image.
An Australian Damsel at a depth of 16m, North West Solitary Island, New South Wales, December 2002. Photo © I. Shaw. View larger image.
Adult Australian Damsels are blue to bluish-grey on the upper sides of the body and often paler below. The centre of each scale is blue. Juveniles are vivid blue.
The species grows to 10 cm in length.
It occurs on shallow coral and rocky reefs as well as muddy areas throughout the Indo-West Pacific.
In Australia it is known from the central coast and reefs of Queensland to the southern coast of New South Wales.
The Australian Damsel looks similar to the Blue Damsel. The two species can be distinguished by the yellow anal and caudal fins of the Blue Damsel.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Related links
- Alexander's Damsel fact sheet
- Ambon Damsel fact sheet
- Speckled Damsel fact sheet
- Blue Damsel fact sheet
- Scaly Damselfish fact sheet
- Blackmargined Damsel fact sheet
- View the Damselfishes list
- View the family Pomacentridae list
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp.271.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.
