Fishes - Australian Museum Fish Site

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Reticulated Dascyllus
Dascyllus reticulatus (Richardson, 1846)

Reticulated Dascyllus
A Reticulated Dascyllus at a depth of 10m, Southern Small Detached Reef, far northern Great Barrier Reef, November 2001. View larger image.

The Reticulated Dascyllus has a white or tan body with a dark bar crossing the body at the pectoral fin base. There is a second, less distinct bar at the rear of the body. The dorsal, anal and caudal fins are dark.

This species grows to 9cm in length.

The Reticulated Dascyllus inhabits seaward reefs and lagoons, often associated with branching corals, particularly Pocillopora eydouxi. It is usually seen in small schools, and can be one of the most common damselfishes on coral reefs.

It is found in depths from 1m to 50m.

Reticulated Dascyllus feed primarily on algae. When mating, the male will clear a section of coral or rock so that the female can attach her eggs.

This species occurs in tropical marine waters of the Indo-Pacific, from the Cocos-Keeling Islands, throughout South-east Asia and Micronesia, north to Japan, south to Australia and east to the Pitcairn Islands.

In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland south to northern New South Wales and Lord Howe Island.

View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.

Further reading

  1. Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the South Seas. TFH Publications. Pp. 237.
  2. Allen, G.R. 1991. Damselfishes of the World. Mergus. Pp. 271.
  3. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 220.
  4. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  5. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
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