Pacific Bronze Chromis, Chromis pacifica Allen & Erdmann 2020

Other Names: Agile Chromis, Agile Damsel, Bronze Reef Chromis, Reef Chromis, Reef Puller, Rusty Chromis

A Pacific Bronze Chromis, Chromis pacifica, at the Potholes, Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Source: Graham Edgar / Reef Life Survey. License: CC by Attribution

Summary:

A yellowish brown puller, with a prominent round, blackish spot covering entire base and axil of the pectoral fin, typically greyish to purplish stripes along the scale rows, brownish dorsal and anal fins with a dark-brown triangular marking posteriorly, a yellowish caudal fin, and often purplish lips.
In Australia, this damselfish was previously known as Chromis agilis, a species which occurs in the western and central Indian Ocean.
Video of a Reef Puller (Chromis pacifica) at Puako, Hawaii.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2021, Chromis pacifica in Fishes of Australia, accessed 09 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/1280

Quick Facts

CAAB Code:37372032

Depth:5-56 m

Habitat:Reef associated

Max Size:8 cm SL

Species Image Gallery

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Distribution	Typically occurs on the outer Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, and reefs in the Coral Sea, from about Holmes Reef to east of the Whitsunday Islands; also the Lord Howe Province in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the tropical western-central Pacific. Usually inhabits outer reef slopes at depths to 56 m.
Features	Dorsal fin XII,12–14; Anal fin II,12–14; all dorsal-fin and anal-fin soft rays branched, last to base; Pectoral fin 16–18, uppermost and lowermost two unbranched; Pelvic fin I,5; Caudal fin, principal rays 15, uppermost and lowermost unbranched; Caudal-fin spiniform rays 2, followed by two accessory segmented rays; Longitudinal scale series 27; Lateral line, tubed scales 14–17; Posterior midlateral scales with a pore or deep pit (in continuous series) 5–9 (usually 7 or 8); Scales above lateral line to origin of dorsal fin 2.5; Scales above lateral line to base of middle dorsal-fin spine 1.5; Scales below lateral line to origin of anal fin 8.5; Gill rakers 7–9 + 19–24 = 27–32; Vertebrae 11+15. Body relatively deep and ovate, depth 1.9 (1.8–2.0) in SL.
Feeding	Feeds on plankton in the water column.
Similar Species	Differs from the similar Chromis agilis, which occurs in the Western and central Indian Ocean, in having a larger black spot at the base of the pectoral fin, lateral greyish to purplish stripes along the scale rows, more dorsal-fin and pectoral-fin rays and lateral-line scales, and a larger size (up to 80 mm SL vs. 55 mm SL).
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin pacificus (= peaceful) in reference to its Pacific Ocean distribution.
Species Citation	Chromis pacifica Allen & Erdmann 2020, Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation 35: 104, figs 1-4, 6A. Type locality: Australia, Coral Sea, Holmes Reefs, 16.4499°S, 148.0014°E, 5–8 m.
Author	Bray, D.J. 2021
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Pacific Bronze Chromis, Chromis pacifica Allen & Erdmann 2020