Threespot damselfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Threespot damselfish |
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| Threespot damselfish seen in Key Largo, Florida | |
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The threespot damselfish (scientific name: Stegastes planifrons) is a small, colorful fish. It lives in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes, you might even see it in a home aquarium!
Contents
What Does a Threespot Damselfish Look Like?
Adult Threespot Damselfish Appearance
Adult threespot damselfish are usually brownish-grey. They have a slightly yellow shine. A big black spot can be seen near their pectoral fins. These are the fins on the side of their body, like arms.
They can grow up to about 13 centimeters (5 inches) long. Their back fin, called the dorsal fin, is quite large. It has 12 stiff spines and 15 to 17 soft rays. The fin underneath, called the anal fin, has two spines and 13 to 14 soft rays. Their side fins (pectoral) and belly fins (pelvic) do not have any spines.
Young Threespot Damselfish Appearance
Young threespot damselfish, called juveniles, look very different. They are a much brighter yellow color. They also have tiny blue spots on their head and upper body. One of these blue spots is even on their eye!
Juveniles have three special black spots. One is on their dorsal fin, where the stiff part meets the soft part. Another is on their tail stem, near the tail fin. The third, smaller spot is just above their pectoral fins. These black spots often have a faint blue edge. Very young fish might not have the pectoral spot yet, but it grows bigger as they get older.
Where Do Threespot Damselfish Live?
The threespot damselfish lives in the western Atlantic Ocean. You can find them in places like Florida, the Caribbean Sea, and the Bahamas. They usually live in water up to about 30 meters (100 feet) deep.
These fish prefer to live near the bottom of the ocean. Their favorite homes are coral reefs, both close to shore and further out. They often hide among staghorn coral. At night, they might even sleep inside small caves in the reef.
How Do Threespot Damselfish Live?
Threespot Damselfish Diet
Threespot damselfish mostly eat seaweed. But they also enjoy other small creatures. Their diet includes tiny crustaceans called copepods. They also eat snails and their eggs. Other foods include small animals like hydroids, marine worms, and sponges.
Threespot Damselfish Reproduction
Adult threespot damselfish are very protective of their homes. They guard large areas of the reef. They will chase away and even nip at other fish or even humans who come too close!
A male and female damselfish will form a pair to have babies. The female lays her eggs on objects on the seabed. These eggs stick to the surface. The male then takes care of the eggs. He guards them from danger. He also fans them with his fins. This helps to keep fresh, oxygen-rich water flowing over the eggs so they can grow.
