Gulf damselfish
📖 Overview
Usually identified as P. jerdoni (Day, 1873), a junior synonym . 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 . 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 . Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding . Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate . Males guard and aerate the eggs . Diurnal species.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal spines: 2; Anal soft rays: 12 - 14. : fusiform / normal; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Gulf damselfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Gulf damselfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding . Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate . Males guard and aerate the eggs .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 2 - 80 m . Tropical West Pacific: Red Sea and Persian Gulf to the Ryukyu Islands, Taiwan, Indonesia, New Guinea, and northern Australia.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Green Puller · Gulf Damsel · Gulf damselfish · Jerdon's Damsel-fish · Roaming Damsel · spotted damsel |
| 🏳️Catalan | Damisel·la blau platejat |
| 🌍CES | sapínek zálivový |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Okisuzumedai · オキスズメダイ |
| 🌍MSA | Gombing · Puyu laut · Rombin |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Donzela-do-golfo |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 厚殼仔 · 鈍吻鋸雀鯛 · 鈍吻鋸齒雀鯛 · 青紺仔 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromis virescens | Ogilby | 1922 | Synonym |
| Daya jerdoni | Day | 1873 | Synonym |
| Daya jerdoni fusca | McCulloch | 1921 | Synonym |
| Pomacentrus dolii | Macleay | 1881 | Synonym |
| Pomacentrus jerdoni | Day | 1873 | Synonym |
| Pomacentrus obtusirostris | Günther | 1862 | Synonym |
| Pristotis jerdoni | Day | 1873 | Synonym |
| Pristotis judithae | Tyler | 1966 | Synonym |
| Teixeirichthys obtusirostris | Gunther | 1862 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 9 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet — be the first to log one!
View all observations for Gulf damselfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.